The physical limnology of Base Mine Lake

由加拿大辛克鲁德有限公司（SCL）承担的基矿湖项目是油砂行业第一个商业规模的示范项目，该项目将油砂流体细粒尾矿放置在采出坑中，并将这些尾矿用水覆盖，形成一个底坑湖。随着尾矿的脱水沉降，湖的深度将从初始的8米左右逐渐增加。我们建议与SCL联合开展一个研究项目，以了解端坑湖水体的物理动力学。我们将检查过程，如冰的形成和融化，分层，内部波，和下降周转。我们的目标是了解这些因素如何影响湖底细尾渣的沉淀和再悬浮，浊度和光线进入湖泊的渗透，以及溶解氧的运输。我们还将研究湖泊如何受到流体细尾矿（泥浆）沉降时释放的温盐水孔隙水的影响。我们建议利用基地矿湖的野外观测、半解析和数值模型以及实验室实验来表征循环、运输和再悬浮等物理过程。我们将与SCL和其他研究人员合作，研究湖水和淤泥湖底的流动细尾矿的化学和生物演变。我们提出的工作将为加拿大油砂行业提供重要的信息，以便成功地将这些湖泊纳入开垦的封闭景观中。这项工作不仅有助于更好地了解和管理尾坑湖，而且有助于更好地了解和管理其他人造和自然水体，从而对加拿大具有社会经济效益。

The Base Mine Lake program undertaken by Syncrude Canada Ltd. (SCL) is the first commercial-scale demonstration in the oil sands industry of the placement of oil sand fluid fine tailings in a mined out pit, and the capping of these tailings with water to form an end pit lake. As the tailings dewater and settle, the depth of the lake will gradually increase from an initial depth of about 8 meters.We propose a joint research project with SCL to understand the physical dynamics of the water in end pit lakes. We will examine processes such as ice formation and thawing, stratification, internal waves, and fall turnover. Our goal is to understand how these impact the settling and re-suspension of fine tailings at the bottom of the lake, the turbidity and penetration of light into the lake, and the transport of dissolved oxygen. We will also examine how the lake is affected by warm saline pore water released from the fluid fine tailings (mud) as it settles. We propose using field observations from Base Mine Lake, semi-analytical and numerical models, and laboratory experiments to characterize physical processes such as circulation, transport and re-suspension. We will collaborate with SCL and other researchers examining the chemical and biological evolution of both the lake water and the muddy lake bottom of fluid fine tailings.Our proposed work will benefit the Canadian oil sands industry by providing important information required for successful incorporation of such lakes into the reclaimed closure landscape. This work will be of socio-economic benefit to Canada by contributing to better understanding and management of not only end pit lakes, but also other man-made and natural water bodies.