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8 - in Pit Dyke Constrcution Planning - Treacy Et Al

The document discusses in-pit dyke construction planning at Shell's Muskeg River Mine oil sands operation in Alberta, Canada. It describes (1) the mine site and operations, (2) how construction materials are predicted using exploration data and block modeling, and (3) the multi-step planning process involving engineers, planners, and monitors to design and build the dykes throughout the mine's lifespan.

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leandro.geotecnia
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38 views15 pages

8 - in Pit Dyke Constrcution Planning - Treacy Et Al

The document discusses in-pit dyke construction planning at Shell's Muskeg River Mine oil sands operation in Alberta, Canada. It describes (1) the mine site and operations, (2) how construction materials are predicted using exploration data and block modeling, and (3) the multi-step planning process involving engineers, planners, and monitors to design and build the dykes throughout the mine's lifespan.

Uploaded by

leandro.geotecnia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Shell Upstream Americas

Heavy Oil – Oil Sands Mining

In-Pit Dyke Construction Planning


Shell Upstream Americas

Authors and Presenters

Authors
• Robin Fauquier and Tim Eaton
– Shell Canada Limited

• Laura Bowie and Duane Treacy


– Shell Albian Sands, Muskeg River Mine

• Jay Horton
– .

Presenter
• Robin Fauquier
Shell Upstream Americas

Site Description
• Muskeg River Mine is a
bitumen mining and extraction
operation located 70kms north
of Ft. McMurray, Alberta.
• Production at MRM started in
early 2003 and currently
operates at capacity of 155,000
bpd of bitumen.
• Jointly owned by Royal Dutch
Shell plc (60%), Marathon Oil
Corporation (20%) and Chevron
Corporation (20%).
• Operated by Shell Canada
Ltd.
Shell Upstream Americas

Background

• Three types of waste are generated


at MRM as a bi-product of bitumen
mining:
•Tailings,
•Construction Materials; and
•General Waste.
• The tailings storage plan requires
in-pit dykes to be designed,
constructed and operated on a
continual basis throughout the life of
mine.
• This presentation briefly describes
the in-pit dykes planning process at
MRM.
Shell Upstream Americas

Dyke Construction Planning

• MRM in pit dyke construction planning currently involves a team of


people working towards a common goal of building the dykes on time,
within budget and within the design specifications.
– Exploration and Field Geologists.
– Geotechnical Designers and Monitors
– Long, Mid and Short Range Mine Planners
– Tailings Planners
– Field Engineers
– Operation and Project Teams
• Complex planning and construction process!
Shell Upstream Americas

Construction Material - Prediction


• In-pit dyke construction materials are derived from overburden and
interburden seams.
• During exploration drilling, in-situ waste is tested for:
– particle size
– water content
– bitumen content
• Mined waste materials are retested for index properties, along with:
– Standard and Modified Proctors
– Atterberg limits
– Permeability
– Direct Shear
– Trixaial
Shell Upstream Americas

Fines Content (74u)


Shell Upstream Americas

Water Content
Shell Upstream Americas

Bitumen Content
Shell Upstream Americas

Construction Material – Prediction


• Construction Material prediction is carried out using the
resource block model.
• Each block is assigned a waste type corresponding to a
design material type.
– Historically modeling has been based on general geological facies
characteristics.
– Modeling refinements are moving away from the use of general
facies characteristics towards measured index properties.

• Block Model is used by both designers and planning


engineers to develop dyke design and construction plans.
Shell Upstream Americas

Dyke Construction Planning – Long to Mid Range

Coarse
Tailings
Deposition

Fluid
Recovery Tailings
to ETF Deposition
Shell Upstream Americas

Dyke Construction Planning - Short Range


Shell Upstream Americas

Dyke Construction Planning - Short Range


Shell Upstream Americas

Conclusion

• The tailings storage plan requires in-pit dykes to be designed,


constructed and operated on a continual basis throughout the life of
mine.
• The primary source for in-pit dykes construction materials is overburden
and interburden waste.
• Construction material prediction is carried out using a geological block
model while construction monitors are responsible for making the final
judgment on material suitability in the field.
• In-pit dyke construction planning at MRM is complex process that
requires devoted resources in order to maximize material utilization.

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