Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Syncrude Cananda Ltd.

Syncrude Canada Ltd. in Trust for the Owners of the Syncrude Project As Such Owners Exist Now and in the Future

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

Eric Leneve

Nan Wang

Jonathan Spence

Barry Bara

Ron Cleminson

Randy Mikula

James Lorentz

Peter Read

Robertino Hertanto

Adedeji Dunmola

A process for reducing segregation of mining tailings while being deposited below the surface of a column of fluid is provided which comprises introducing the mining tailings into a downpipe having an inlet at or near the surface of the column of fluid and an outlet submerged in the column of fluid; providing at least one pressure drop element in the downpipe to prevent acceleration of the mining tailings and maintain the tailings flow therethrough; and providing a diffusing device at the outlet of the downpipe to reduce the velocity of the mining tailings as the tailings are discharged therefrom.

Subaqueous mining tailings placement

A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive or a mixture thereof; depositing the resulting mixture into a disposal area; pumping water from the deposit to one or more sumps, and allowing the deposit to reach a sufficient strength; and removing remaining deposit water and rainfall through one or more of a network of ditches, a decant tower, or a plurality of dike drainage structures to yield a non-segregating deposit for reclamation.

Oil sands fluid fine tailings dewatering using rim ditching

Growing community of inventors

Fort McMurray, Canada

Eric Leneve