Physical Limnology of Base Mine Lake

由加拿大辛克鲁德公司（Syncrude Canada Ltd.）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（泥浆）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，湖泊的深度将从目前的10米左右逐渐增加。我们提议与加拿大辛克鲁德有限公司联合开展研究项目，了解尾坑湖水体的物理动力学。我们将研究过程，如甲烷冒泡，冰的形成和融化，分层，内波，和下降营业额。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。我们还将研究湖泊在沉淀过程中如何受到流体细尾矿（泥浆）释放的含盐孔隙水的影响。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。我们将与加拿大辛克鲁德有限公司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，从而对加拿大产生社会经济效益。

The Base Mine Lake program undertaken by Syncrude Canada Ltd. is the first commercial-scale demonstration in the oil sands industry of the placement of oil sands fluid fine tailings (mud) 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 its present depth of about 10 meters.We propose a joint research project with Syncrude Canada Ltd. to understand the physical dynamics of the water in end pit lakes. We will examine processes such as methane bubbling, 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 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 Syncrude Canada Ltd. 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 requiredfor successful incorporation of such lakes into the reclaimed closure landscape. This work will be ofsocio-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.