Abstract: A process for dewatering tailings having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 70 wt % is provided comprising fully flocculating the tailings by adding an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant to the tailings and mixing the polymeric flocculant and tailings in a mixing device to form fully flocculated tailings having a minimized capillary suction time (CST) and discharging the fully flocculated tailings into a deposition area at a discharge velocity of substantially zero to minimize further mixing.

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 dewatering tailings is provided, comprising mixing the tailings with an effective amount of a flocculant to form flocculated tailings; providing a containment area having a water column therein; and depositing the flocculated tailings into the containment area such that the flocculated tailings pass through the water column to allow the flocs to form a compact structure at the bottom thereof.

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 dewatering oil sands tailings is provided, comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt %; adding a flocculant to the tailings feed and mixing the tailings feed and flocculant to form flocs; and centrifuging the flocculated tailings feed to produce a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt % and a cake having a solids content of at least about 50 wt %.

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 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 process for enhancing the solidification of tailings is provided comprising providing overburden having a moisture content ranging from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % and comminuting the overburden to a first size; providing tailings having a solids content ranging from about 1 wt % to about 70 wt %; adding the tailings to the first sized overburden to form treated overburden and comminuting the treated overburden to a second size; and depositing the second sized treated overburden to produce a substantially solidified deposit.

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 method for transporting flocculated tailings through a pipeline is provided comprising: adding an effective amount of a flocculant or a coagulant or a combination thereof to the mining tailings to form treated mining tailings comprising tailings flocs and release water; and injecting the treated mining tailings into the pipeline at a shear rate sufficient to form a self-lubricated core-annular flow of the treated mining tailings; whereby the release water forms a protective layer around the pipeline walls thereby reducing shearing of the tailings flocs.

Abstract: A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising providing overburden having a moisture content ranging from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % and comminuting the overburden to a first size; providing tailings having a solids content ranging from about 10 wt % to about 60 wt %; adding the tailings to the first sized overburden to form treated overburden and comminuting the treated overburden to a second size; and depositing the second sized treated overburden to produce a solidified deposit.

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 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 providing overburden having a moisture content ranging from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % and comminuting the overburden to a first size; providing tailings having a solids content ranging from about 10 wt % to about 60 wt %; adding the tailings to the first sized overburden to form treated overburden and comminuting the treated overburden to a second size; and depositing the second sized treated overburden to produce a solidified deposit.

Abstract: A process for flocculating and dewatering oil sands fine tailings in a pipeline is provided, comprising: pumping a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt % through a pipeline; injecting an effective amount of a polymeric flocculant into the tailings feed to provide an initial quick dispersion of the polymeric flocculant into the tailings feed; and providing a subsequent conditioning environment to form flocs and release water without overshearing.

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 enhancing the solidification of tailings is provided comprising providing overburden having a moisture content ranging from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % and comminuting the overburden to a first size; providing tailings having a solids content ranging from about 1 wt % to about 70 wt %; adding the tailings to the first sized overburden to form treated overburden and comminuting the treated overburden to a second size; and depositing the second sized treated overburden to produce a substantially solidified deposit.

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 for dewatering oil sands tailings is provided, comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt %; adding a flocculant to the tailings feed and mixing the tailings feed and flocculant to form flocs; and centrifuging the flocculated tailings feed to produce a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt % and a cake having a solids content of at least about 50 wt %.