Managing the large-scale reclamation monitoring network at Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Abstract

Syncrude Canada Ltd. (Syncrude) operates the Mildred Lake mine, one of the world's largest operating mines, situated in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of northeastern Alberta. This region will produce more than 50% of Canada's oil supply within the next ten years with Syncrude alone supplying 20% of the nation's oil. It is estimated that more than 21,000 ha of boreal forest will require reclamation as a result of large tracts of land disturbed during operations. Oil sand operators receive operating licenses from the provincial government based on achievable closure and reclamation plans, and the ability to demonstrate successful reclamation is a competitive advantage in a region where limits on development due to cumulative environmental impacts are a reality. Monitoring the performance of field trials is commonly performed at mine sites to guide development of, and build support for, final reclamation closure. The objective of this paper is to allow mine operators to understand "real" costs associated with reclamation monitoring. Once reclamation has been completed, monitoring may be continued to document success in an effort to gain bond release. Mine sites typically utilize automated data acquisition systems to the greatest extent because of reduced labor requirement. However, due to the variety of data collected, the differences in cover and waste materials, and the inevitable need for manual intervention and monitoring, the effort required to install and maintain a network of data acquisition systems can be significant. At the beginning of the 2005 field season, Syncrude operated a network of 27 automated data acquisition systems that collect surface runoff, meteorological, and in situ soil data to track the water and salt balance of reclaimed areas. This paper describes the development of Syncrude's integrated watershed reclamation monitoring system, and the effort, time, and costs associated with maintaining the system.