Coarse Tailings Sand Densification By Dozer Packing

Scott Martens, Pavol Oblozinsky, Andrew Durham, Samuel Li, Mahmoud Elbanna, Joe Quinn

In the proceedings of: GeoEdmonton 2018: 71st Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 13th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Mining Geotechnics and Hydrogeology I

ABSTRACT: Upstream construction tailings dams in the oil sands mining industry rely on a compacted shell and beaches of non-liquefiable sand to contain the pond and internal loose beach deposits. Compaction energy to densify the sand in the shell is provided by dozers which densify the sand through the vibration of trafficking repeatedly across the sand surface, together with the downward drainage of construction water through the sand. This paper updates previous published data on dozer track-packing effectiveness, based on operational experience and addresses the influences of: dozer size, tailings sand gradation, and sand moisture content. Observations on equipment productivity are given in terms of cubic metres of densified sand per operating hour. The effectiveness of the densification was assessed using cone penetration testing, surveys of the surface settlement, and visual observations of water liberated from the beach.

RÉSUMÉ: l'industrie des sables bitumineux comprend des sections de sable compacté par étages et des plages de sable non-liquéfiable. L'énergie pour compacter et densifier le sable est fournie par des bulldozers qui densifient le sable par vibrations en roulant à plusieurs reprises à sa surface. Le antérieurement sur l'efficacité de cette méthode de compactage en fonction de l'expérience opérationnelle et tient observations sur la productivité des équipements sont données en mètres cubes de sable densifié par heure de fonctionnement. L'efficacité de la densification a été évaluée à l'aide d'essais de pénétration au cône, de mesures du tassement et d'observations visuelles de l'eau libérée de la plage.

Please include this code when submitting a data update: GEO2018_342

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