Fine tailings : the focus for tailings issues and the challenge for future management and research initiatives

The presentation defined mature fine tailings (MFT) as being the aged aqueous suspension of fines associated with oil sands processing that develop in settling basins. It explained where fine tails come from during extraction and deposition. Fine tailings are a byproduct of the oil sand extraction process. The presentation also described the properties of fine tailings that must be addressed for operating and future developments. Other topics covered include: how rapid MFT densification affects management issues; MFT management options in perspective including the advantages and disadvantages; historical and current tailings practices; lessons learned, including successes and challenges regarding MFT management with settling basins. The presentation concluded that MFT is accumulating, but rates are lower and inventories requiring storage are being reduced. MFT inventory is decreasing through microbial processes, water chemistry changes and deposition strategies, but its strength is increasing faster than predicted. MFT will remain a soft deposit, but options for in situ reclamation and wet landscape scenarios are improving along with the quality of MFT prewater. Current MFT management approaches are robust, successful and appear to have low risks associated with them. tabs., figs