Pierre River Mine Project

MINING AND PROCESSING ERCB SIRS 3 – 38
Request 37d Does Shell plan to deposit TSRU tailings separately? Discuss the option of
depositing TSRU tailings separately.
Section 4.1
Response 37d Shell is not planning to deposit TSRU tailings separately because of the
additional cost and the increased environmental footprint that would result from
segregation.
Question No. 38
Request Volume 1, Section 10.1, Page 10-156, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “The application case shows a total of 251.1 Mm 3 of MFT, whereas
the no-NST case results in a total of 300.2 Mm 3 of MFT, a net increase of
49.1 Mm 3 of MFT over the final 12 years from 2028 to 2039.”
38a What is the volume of MFT generated per volume of bitumen production?
Response 38a The Pierre River Mine will produce 196 Mm 3 of recovered bitumen product (see
the May 2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental Information, Volume 1, Section
3.1, Table 3-1). The estimated production of mature fine tailings (MFT) is
251.1 Mm 3 . Therefore, the ratio of MFT to recovered bitumen is 1.28 m 3
MFT/recovered bitumen m 3 .
Request 38b What constraints will prevent Shell from minimizing the fluid tailings volume?
Response 38b Shell’s principal constraint in minimizing fluid tailings volume is the availability
of commercially proven technology. Shell believes that the tailings management
plan outlined in the Pierre River Mine Application presents a balance between
minimizing fluid tailings and the limits of current technology.
Request 38c What is Shell’s plan to decrease the volume of MFT per volume of bitumen
production? What is the target?
Response 38c Shell’s estimate of the volume of MFT generated at the Pierre River Mine is
based on the original project application and subsequent updates. Although the
MFT to bitumen ratio is expected to improve as experience from the Jackpine
Mine operation are incorporated into the detailed design, at this point in the
project development, it is difficult to make informed projections or set targets in
this regard.
4-40 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
CR029