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Application |
GeoStudio |
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Version |
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Primary Analysis |
TEMP/W |
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Keywords |
GeoStudio, TEMP/W, SEEP/W, Seasonal, temperature, trends, water, capped, tailings |
Introduction
Bitumen extraction from oil sands generates large volumes of soft tailings, referred to as fluid fine tailings. Fluid fine tailings are generally placed in surface impoundments where they gradually undergo self-weight consolidation; however, an alternate disposal strategy is to place these tailings in mined-out pits beneath a water cap. This mine closure strategy is called an End Pit Lake. One example of this type of tailings disposal, as described by Dompierre and Barbour (2016, 2017) is Base Mine Lake, operated by Syncrude Canada Ltd. One aspect of the long-term evolution of these tailings following placement that has not been extensively studied is the change in temperature within the tailings. For example, the tailings at Base Mine Lake have elevated temperatures (11-19 ⁰C) as compared to the background regional shallow groundwater temperature (4 ⁰C) and the average annual air temperature (1 ⁰C; Environment Canada, 2016). Long-term cooling of these tailings may take many hundreds of years and the associated energy movement will continue to influence the overlying water cap and adjacent groundwater system. Settlement of the tailings over time generates upward pore water flow, which will also contribute to heat transfer from the tailings to the overlying water cap. This example illustrates the use of SEEP/W and TEMP/W for simulating seasonal temperature trends within water-capped tailings, and the corresponding heat flux to the overlying water. The numerical inputs are based on the study published by Dompierre and Barbour (2016).
Downloads
▪ 📗 GeoStudio - TEMP/W - Seasonal temperature trends in water capped tailings - Information [PDF]
▪ 💻 GeoStudio - TEMP/W - Seasonal temperature trends in water capped tailings - Project [gsz]
See also