Futuristic landscape showing the transformation of oil sands tailings ponds into green environments with advanced monitoring technology.

Unlocking the Secrets of Oil Sands: A Simple Method for Measuring Solid Waste

Mira Elwood in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a new, cost-effective technique is transforming the management of mature fine tailings in the oil sands industry, offering a sustainable solution for environmental challenges."

The oil sands industry in western Canada faces a significant hurdle: managing mature fine tailings (MFT). These are byproducts of bitumen extraction, consisting of water, sand, silt, clay, and residual hydrocarbons. The current practice involves storing these tailings in large surface impoundments or mined-out pits, where they can take hundreds of years to solidify naturally. This slow consolidation poses ongoing environmental and logistical challenges.

Traditional methods of monitoring MFT consolidation, such as the Gamma Ray Attenuation method, have drawbacks. While effective, they can be heavy, radioactive, non-automatic, and time-consuming, making it difficult to obtain frequent measurements across different sites and depths. This necessitates a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solution.

Recognizing this need, researchers have been exploring alternative methods to accelerate the consolidation process and accurately measure the solid percentage of MFT. One promising technique is the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method, which offers a non-radioactive, automated approach to monitoring MFT solidification.

The Dual-Probe Heat Pulse (DPHP) Method: A Sustainable Solution

Futuristic landscape showing the transformation of oil sands tailings ponds into green environments with advanced monitoring technology.

The dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method involves inserting two needles into the MFT. One needle releases a short pulse of heat, while the other measures the temperature response of the surrounding material. By analyzing the temperature changes, researchers can determine the volumetric heat capacity and thermal diffusivity of the MFT, which are directly related to its solid percentage. This method offers several advantages:

The DPHP method presents itself as a promising method due to:

Non-Radioactive: Eliminates the risks associated with radioactive materials used in traditional methods.
Automated: Allows for continuous, real-time monitoring of MFT consolidation.
Cost-Effective: Reduces the expenses associated with labor-intensive measurements and specialized equipment.
Accurate: Provides reliable measurements of MFT solid percentage, comparable to oven-dry methods.

Researchers Min Li, S. Lee Barbour, and Bing Cheng Si conducted a study to evaluate the feasibility of using the DPHP method to measure MFT solid percentage. They performed DPHP measurements on three MFT samples with varying solid percentages and established a linear relationship between the DPHP-measured solid percentage and that obtained through the oven-dry method. This relationship was then validated using six additional MFT samples collected from different locations and depths within the Aurora Mine MFT ponds in Alberta, Canada.

A Promising Future for MFT Management

The dual-probe heat pulse method represents a significant step forward in the management of oil sands mature fine tailings. By providing a non-radioactive, automated, and cost-effective means of monitoring MFT consolidation, this technology can help the oil sands industry address a critical environmental challenge and move towards more sustainable practices. Further research and development of the DPHP method could lead to even more accurate and efficient MFT management strategies in the future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2134/jeq2014.06.0262, Alternate LINK

Title: Measuring Solid Percentage Of Oil Sands Mature Fine Tailings Using The Dual Probe Heat Pulse Method

Subject: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Journal: Journal of Environmental Quality

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Min Li, S. Lee Barbour, Bing Cheng Si

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are mature fine tailings (MFT), and why are they a problem for the oil sands industry?

Mature fine tailings (MFT) are byproducts of bitumen extraction from oil sands, consisting of water, sand, silt, clay, and residual hydrocarbons. They pose environmental and logistical challenges because they can take hundreds of years to solidify naturally, leading to the need for long-term storage in large surface impoundments or mined-out pits. The slow consolidation impacts land use and water management, highlighting the importance of effective MFT management strategies.

How does the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method work to measure the solid percentage of mature fine tailings (MFT)?

The dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method involves inserting two needles into the mature fine tailings (MFT). One needle releases a short pulse of heat, while the other measures the temperature response of the surrounding material. By analyzing these temperature changes, the volumetric heat capacity and thermal diffusivity of the MFT can be determined. These properties are directly related to the solid percentage, allowing for accurate monitoring of MFT consolidation.

What are the advantages of using the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method compared to traditional methods like the Gamma Ray Attenuation method for monitoring mature fine tailings (MFT)?

Traditional methods like the Gamma Ray Attenuation method, while effective, can be heavy, radioactive, non-automatic, and time-consuming. The dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method offers significant advantages by being non-radioactive, automated, and cost-effective. This allows for continuous, real-time monitoring of mature fine tailings (MFT) consolidation without the safety and logistical concerns associated with radioactive materials.

What are the potential implications of using the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method for environmental management in the oil sands industry, particularly concerning mature fine tailings (MFT)?

The dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method's ability to provide continuous, real-time monitoring of mature fine tailings (MFT) consolidation can significantly improve environmental management practices. By accurately measuring solid percentage, the DPHP method aids in optimizing consolidation strategies, reducing the long-term storage time required for MFT, and minimizing the environmental footprint of oil sands operations. Further research and development could lead to even more refined MFT management strategies, potentially including enhanced consolidation techniques and improved land reclamation processes.

How was the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method validated for measuring mature fine tailings (MFT) solid percentage, and who were the key researchers involved?

Researchers Min Li, S. Lee Barbour, and Bing Cheng Si demonstrated the feasibility of using the dual-probe heat pulse (DPHP) method to measure mature fine tailings (MFT) solid percentage. They established a linear relationship between the DPHP-measured solid percentage and that obtained through the oven-dry method. This was validated using additional MFT samples from the Aurora Mine MFT ponds in Alberta, Canada. This validation confirms the reliability and accuracy of the DPHP method in real-world MFT management scenarios.