Abstract: A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

Abstract: A process is provided for capturing fines present in fluid fine tailings, in particular, in oil sands fluid fine tailings (FFT), present in a tailings containment structure by spreading coarse sand into the tailings containment structure below an interface that has formed between a water cap and the fluid fine tailings to form a uniform, non-segregating and homogenous fines-rich, a high total solids content mixture that will ultimately form a beach below FFT (BB-FFT) at the bottom of the tailings containment structure.

Abstract: A process for co-depositing tailings streams and/or tailings products is provided comprising providing a tailings containment structure; and co-depositing at least two different tailings streams and/or tailings products into the tailings containment structure.

Abstract: A process for improving the dewatering characteristic of tailings is provided comprising adding flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) solids, produced when using calcium oxide to remove sulfur dioxide from flue gas or emissions, to the tailings.

Abstract: A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

Abstract: A process for operating multiple oil sand mine sites for extracting bitumen from oil sand is disclosed, comprising preparing a first conditioned oil sand slurry at a first location using a first oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; preparing a second conditioned oil sand slurry at a second location using a second oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; combining the first conditioned oil sand slurry and the second conditioned oil sand slurry in at least one slurry distributor to produce a combined oil sand slurry; and distributing the combined oil sand slurry to at least one separation vessel to produce bitumen froth.

Abstract: A process for the in-situ treatment of tailings in a containment area having a tailings layer comprising fine solids and water, is provided comprising: adding a flocculant, a coagulant, a hydrophobicity modifying agent, or any combination thereof, into a portion of the tailings layer; mixing the portion of the tailings layer and flocculant, coagulant, collector, or combinations thereof, to form in-situ treated tailings; and allowing the in-situ treated tailings to dewater and/or consolidate in-situ in the tailings containment area.

Abstract: A process for operating multiple oil sand mine sites for extracting bitumen from oil sand is disclosed, comprising preparing a first conditioned oil sand slurry at a first location using a first oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; preparing a second conditioned oil sand slurry at a second location using a second oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; combining the first conditioned oil sand slurry and the second conditioned oil sand slurry in at least one slurry distributor to produce a combined oil sand slurry; and distributing the combined oil sand slurry to at least one separation vessel to produce bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling flocculation of oil sands fine tailings in a pipeline is provided comprising injecting a polymeric flocculant into a tailings feed being pumped through the pipeline, mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed in the pipeline, and providing one or more adjustable valves in the pipeline that are operable to either reduce the flow area of the adjustable valve to increase shear or dispersed energy when the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed are under-mixed or increase the flow area of the adjustable valve to decrease shear or dispersed energy when the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed are over-mixed.

Abstract: A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine silt minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a clay surface reagent to selectively modify the surface properties of the fine clay minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to float a portion of the fine clay minerals and form a clay froth layer and froth flotation tails having a reduced fine clay minerals content; and recovering the clay froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

Abstract: A process of treating and dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of a flocculant, a coagulant, or both, to promote flocculation/aggregation of the fine solids in the tailings; mixing a sufficient amount of a hydrophobicity modifying agent with the thus treated tailings to modify the hydrophobicity of the flocculated/aggregated fine solids; and subjecting the resulting mixture to liquid solids separation to yield a solids product for reclamation and a liquid product for recycling or disposal.

Abstract: A process for preparing engineered tailings that are essentially immediately trafficable is provided comprising providing a source of high density sand; mixing a source of tailings with the high density sand to give a tailings product having at least about 80 wt % solids and a solids to fines ratio of greater than 2.0; and optionally adding at least one additive to the tailings product if additional strength is required.

Abstract: A process for dewatering tailings is provided comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 70 wt %; adding an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant to the tailings feed and, optionally, mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings feed mixture in a mixer; transporting the tailings feed and polymeric flocculant mixture to a deposition area; and optimizing the overall mixing and therefore dewatering rate of the tailings feed and polymeric flocculant mixture by controlling the conditions used for discharging the mixture to a deposition area.

Abstract: A method for monitoring dewatering of flocculated oil sands tailings involves positioning an image capture device in a flow of flocculated oil sands tailing through a pipeline for acquiring images of the flocculated oil sands tailings; collecting the images of the flocculated oil sands tailings; and analyzing the one or more images to ensure production of optimum floc structures for maximum oil sands fine tailings dewatering.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A process of dewatering tailings such as fluid fine tailings from oil sand extraction is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive comprising at least one multivalent cation, each multivalent cation being in an amount ranging from about 0.125% to about 0.25% and higher, up to or greater than the solubility limit of the at least one multivalent cation, and depositing the resulting mixture into a containment area to yield a non-segregating, rapidly cracking and dewatering deposit for reclamation and recycle water which can optionally be used in an oil sand bitumen extraction process.

Abstract: A process for the disposal of oil sands tailings is provided, comprising: optionally diluting the tailings with sufficient water to yield a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 18 wt % to about 36 wt %; adding one or both of a coagulant and a flocculant to the tailings feed to form a centrifuge feed; centrifuging the centrifuge feed to produce a centrifuge cake having a solids content of at least about 50% and a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt %; and introducing the centrifuge cake into an overburden containment structure comprised of oil sand overburden, said overburden containment structure comprising a least one trench for holding the centrifuge cake, or into a deep disposal site for additional dewatering of the centrifuge cake through self-weight consolidation and creep.

Abstract: 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.