Pierre River Mine Project

WATER ERCB SIRS 46 – 79
Question No. 67
Request Volume 4A, Section 6.1.2, Page 6-222.
Section 7.1
Shell states, “Simulation results suggest that in the absence of mitigation, TDS
will have migrated through the overburden deposits to Big Creek and the
Athabasca River valley by 2031 (Figure 6.3-90), 13 years after the initiation of
ETDA operation.”
67a Define the techniques (e.g. pumping tests, geophysical surveys, infiltration tests)
and assumptions that were used in assigning the hydraulic parameters to the
various formations in the conceptual model.
Response 67a Within the local study areas (LSAs) for each of the Pierre River Mine and
Jackpine Mine Expansion, hydraulic parameters were assigned based on
geometric mean values calculated from single well response tests. The response
tests were conducted on monitoring wells installed in Quaternary deposits and
the McMurray Formation (including the basal aquifer) during the baseline
hydrogeological investigation (WorleyParsons Komex 2007).
Reference
Question No. 68
In areas outside of the Pierre River Mine and Jackpine Mine Expansion LSAs
and for the Devonian formations, model hydraulic parameters were assigned
based on the parameterization described in previous hydrogeology baseline and
EIA investigations in the region. For some formations, other data sources (i.e.,
laboratory permeability testing and drill-stem testing data) were also reviewed if
available well response testing (i.e., pumping test and single well response test)
data were insufficient.
WorleyParsons Komex. 2007. Hydrogeology Environmental Setting Report for
the Jackpine Mine Expansion and Pierre River Mine Project. Prepared
for Shell Canada Limited, Calgary, AB. Submitted December 2007.
Request Volume 4A, Section 6.3.6, Page 6-229.
In Figure 6.3-95, the ETDA is overlying the basal aquifer outcropping recharge
area; and in Figure 6.3-102, the intercepting wells are only capturing horizontal
flow from the overburden sediments.
68a Was the direct contact of the external tailings dump area (ETDA) with the basal
aquifer considered in the model? If yes, then discuss the assumptions considered
to simulate this zone.
7-22 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
CR029