Tailings and Waste Management in Mineable Oil Sands

This chapter addresses the management of tailings and other waste streams, and the resulting greenhouse gas intensity, during the operational and reclamation phases of a mineable oil sands facility. Examples of commercially deployed treatment technologies are provided to illustrate the tension between operational, reclamation, regulatory, and economic requirements. Challenges related to long-term geo-environmental performance of tailings deposits are discussed for the various tailings products that are currently commercially deployed or under consideration for future implementation. Energy intensity for material handling and treatment of tailings and oil sands process-affected water is discussed.