Pierre River Mine Project

MINING AND PROCESSING ERCB SIRS 3 – 38
• using coagulants
• potentially recycling TFT to a supplemental thickening process
Section 4.1
The type and extent of supplementary technology employed at the Pierre River
Mine will be based on the experience gained through commercial operations at
the Muskeg River and Jackpine mines. Shell expects that these operations will
comply with Directive 074 before the Pierre River Mine starts up. Shell is
confident that, although some of the details of the Pierre River Mine plan still
need to be determined, the knowledge gained at its existing operations will allow
the Pierre River mine to meet the objectives of Directive 074.
Request 33c What is Shell’s plan to meet the requirement of fines capture as specified in
ERCB Directive 074: Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil
Sands Schemes, i.e., minimum 50% of fines in feed?
Response 33c See the response to ERCB SIR 33b.
Request 33d Discuss how Shell will measure the fines captured in the TT deposit and the
strength of the deposit.
Response 33d The techniques and procedures for measuring fines capture and deposit strength
will be based on the Jackpine Mine Fines Measurement Plan, which is currently
being developed. The Pierre River Mine Fines Measurement Plan will be
submitted in conjunction with the Annual Compliance Report by September 30
of the year before tailings deposition starts, as outlined in ERCB Directive 074:
Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil Sands Schemes Section
4.4.
Request 33e Clarify Shell’s commitment to meet the requirements of ERCB Directive 074.
Response 33e Shell is committed to meeting the objectives of ERCB Directive 074 and will
continue to work with the ERCB to ensure that the appropriate technology is
successfully implemented to achieve the required targets and timelines.
Question No. 34
Request Volume 1, Section 4.1, Page 4-2, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “In 2029, the first mined pit area will be available to receive
tailings……Non-segregating tailings will be made by combining a portion of the
TT stream with the cyclone underflow stream and gypsum to produce a slurry
with a sand-to-fines ratio of 5:1. The remaining TT will be disposed of in a
separate in-pit cell (DDA). Thin fine tailings will be removed continually from
4-34 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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