System and Integrated Method For Treatment of Tailings From Bitumen Extraction Process

摘要

A system and method for treating tailings from a bitumen froth treatment process such as TSRU tailings. The tailings are dewatered to at least 50 wt percent solids content, and then combusted to convert kaolin in the tailings into metakaolin. Calcined fines and heavy minerals may be recovered from the combustion products, namely from the flue gas or bottom ash or both. A trafficable deposit may be formed from the ash when mixed with tailings, such as mature fine tailings (MFT).

主权项

1. A method for treating tailings from a froth treatment process, the tailings comprising sand, clay comprising kaolin, water, and hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
dewatering the tailings comprising a primary water separation and a secondary water separation to produce dewatered tailings and recovered water, the dewatered tailings having a hydrocarbon content and a solids content to support combustion of the dewatered tailings; combusting the hydrocarbons in the dewatered tailings in a combustion chamber to cause a dehydration reaction converting kaolin into metakaolin and to produce fly ash and bottom ash; and recovering calcined fines comprising metakaolin from at least one of the fly ash and the bottom ash.