The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

tailing pond reclamation

Dew,
the tar sands are 'washed' with hot water to separate the oil from the sand. Most of the oil is separated from the water and sent off to the refinery. However, the water is loaded with suspended and dissolved stuff (clays, salts, organics etc.) and since some of the stuff is not conducive to keeping plants, fish or people healthy the production companies like to separate the unpleasant dissolved or suspended stuff from the water. It's primitive: dump the stuff in man-made pond and let gravity and evaporation work their magic. Eventually, the oil companies do what gets done with municipal garbage dumps: throw some dirt on top, do a little sculpting and try to grow some stuff that won't send roots too deep.

They do attempt to recycle some water but i don't know what's involved.

not very detailed descriptions at:
http://www.syncrude.ca/users/folder.asp?FolderID=5913
http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/tarsands/index.cfm