In the last decade mineable oil sands production in Canada has grown rapidly. Constraints on the planning and design processes employed by surface mining oil sands operations vary in distinct ways from other commodities mined by both hard and soft rock open pit methods. The unique waste handling needs, including tailings disposal, of contemporary oil sands mining requires specific planning considerations. It is the purpose of this research to analyze and document a conventional hard rock, metal mine planning system, and contrast this with the unconventional mine planning system used by oil sands mines. Systems activity models of both the conventional and unconventional systems are developed in support of documenting and contrasting the two systems. Constraints unique to oil sands mine planning are identified and their impact on the oil sands mine planning system are documented. The impacts of challenging waste handling and storage requirements and a uniquely prescriptive regulatory environment defining mineable ore are identified as key constraints. The research concludes with a proposal for a new planning system to better support the planning of oil sands mines. The proposed system respects the unique waste management considerations in oil sands planning and revisits the current regulatory approach to ensuring resource recovery. The proposed system is compatible with traditional approaches to economic analysis in open pit planning, and with emerging best practices to manage technical and economic uncertainty, improve project optimization, and develop robust mine plans. / Thesis (Ph.D, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-02 17:52:18.223

Syncrude Canada Ltd (Syncrude) Mildred Lake operation is the largest producer of crude oil from oil sands mining in Canada. A saline-sodic clay-shale overburden known as the Clearwater Formation (Kc) must be removed in order to access the oil-bearing McMurray Formation (Km). The potential concerns associated with the reclamation of overburden structures include shale weathering and salt release and migration, resulting in salinization of groundwater, surface water, and reclamation soil covers. South Bison Hill (SBH) is one example of a Kc overburden structure located at the Syncrude Mildred Lake Operation. The general objective of this study is to develop a preliminary conceptual/interpretative model of the hydrogeology of the newly reclaimed SBH at the Syncrude mine site. A number of tasks were undertaken to meet this general objective. The first, and most important aspect of this study was to develop a geological model of SBH including pile geometry and depositional history of the hill. Secondly, to gain an understanding of the field conditions, a program was carried out over 2002 and 2003 to obtain pile physical characteristics. The geological model revealed that there are four main geological sections of SBH of different materials using different construction methods. The field data were used to verify the geological model, which illustrated the differences in hydraulic conductivities and geochemical signatures between the different sections. All information was used to develop a simple steady-state numerical seepage model of SBH to be used as a tool to investigate the response of the water levels of SBH to variations in the model parameters. The model illustrated that groundwater flow is largely controlled by a more permeable section on the south side of SBH and an unstructured Kc fill at the base of the pile. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the model changing the flux into the pile, the permeability of the materials, and most importantly the head value of the tailings facility located on the north side both showing to be influential on the elevation of the water table through SBH.

Syncrude Canada Ltd (Syncrude) Mildred Lake operation is the largest producer of crude oil from oil sands mining in Canada. A saline-sodic clay-shale overburden known as the Clearwater Formation (Kc) must be removed in order to access the oil-bearing McMurray Formation (Km). The potential concerns associated with the reclamation of overburden structures include shale weathering and salt release and migration, resulting in salinization of groundwater, surface water, and reclamation soil covers. South Bison Hill (SBH) is one example of a Kc overburden structure located at the Syncrude Mildred Lake Operation. The general objective of this study is to develop a preliminary conceptual/interpretative model of the hydrogeology of the newly reclaimed SBH at the Syncrude mine site. A number of tasks were undertaken to meet this general objective. The first, and most important aspect of this study was to develop a geological model of SBH including pile geometry and depositional history of the hill. Secondly, to gain an understanding of the field conditions, a program was carried out over 2002 and 2003 to obtain pile physical characteristics. The geological model revealed that there are four main geological sections of SBH of different materials using different construction methods. The field data were used to verify the geological model, which illustrated the differences in hydraulic conductivities and geochemical signatures between the different sections. All information was used to develop a simple steady-state numerical seepage model of SBH to be used as a tool to investigate the response of the water levels of SBH to variations in the model parameters. The model illustrated that groundwater flow is largely controlled by a more permeable section on the south side of SBH and an unstructured Kc fill at the base of the pile. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the model changing the flux into the pile, the permeability of the materials, and most importantly the head value of the tailings facility located on the north side both showing to be influential on the elevation of the water table through SBH.

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