Process for dying oil sand mature fine tailings

摘要

A process for drying fine tailings is provided. The process, which may use a pipeline reactor system, comprises providing an in-line flow of the fine tailings; continuously introducing a flocculent solution to cause dispersion and commence flocculation of the fine tailings and may comprise rapid turbulent mixing; subjecting the fine tailings to flocculation and water release conditioning in-line to cause formation and rearrangement of floes and increasing the yield shear stress to form flocculated fine tailings while avoiding over-shearing of the flocs; and depositing the fine tailings to allow the release of water, formation of a non-flowing fine tailings deposit and drying of the non-flowing fine tailings deposit. The process enables effective in-line dispersion, flocculation and water release, resulting in reliable deposition and drying of the fine tailings deposit.

主权项

1. A process for drying oil sand fine tailings comprising water and fine solids in suspension in the water, the process comprising:
providing an in-line flow of the fine tailings; continuously introducing a flocculant solution comprising a polymer flocculation reagent into the in-line flow of the fine tailings, to cause dispersion of the flocculant solution and commence flocculation of the fine tailings; subjecting the fine tailings to flocculation conditioning in-line to cause formation and rearrangement of flocs and increase the yield shear stress to form an in-line flow comprising flocculated fine tailings; subjecting the flocculated fine tailings to water release conditioning to stimulate release of water while avoiding over-shearing of the flocs and re-suspension of the fine solids into the water; and depositing the fine tailings on a land surface to allow the release of water, formation of a non-flowing fine tailings deposit and drying of the non-flowing fine tailings deposit on the land surface.