Water Focus Group

• Vision:

  To collaborate on the understanding of water use and its impacts in surface operations (extraction & upgrading) and final reclamation.

  Objectives:

  
  • Share non-competitive information on best practices in water management, tools (e.g. monitoring & modeling), and treatment technologies
  • Identify opportunities for collaborative research and technology development
  • Maintain expert committee on screening new technologies & research ideas and provide guidance on regulatory/policy changes on water.

  Accomplishments 2001-2011:

  Catalyst for the following initiatives:

  • UofA NSERC Industrial Research Chair on Water Treatment
  • GSC Isotope Study on nature of naphthenic acids in the Athabasca River

  Projects:

  • Created database of industry best practices and technologies for water treatment
  • Sponsored project on treatment water quality targets for Athabasca River discharge based on multiple industry point discharges
  • Atomic energy project on froth water chemistry

  Bi-Annual CONRAD Water Conferences:
  Four successful and profitable workshops were held in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010.

  A Conference with educational Workshops and 3 site tours will be held March 2012:

  • > 65 abstracts submitted for 20-28 speaking slots
  • Restricted to 350 attendees at Edmonton Westin Hotel
  • 2 educational workshops on mining and in-situ operational water challenges will be held at UofA
  • Tour at EPCOR’s Goldbar Water Treatment Facility and Suncor (PetroCanada) Refinery in Edmonton
  • Has become the top oil sands water usage event
  • Draws attendees worldwide
  • Has outgrown the ability to be held in Ft McMurray

  PritKotecha (Suncor Energy), Chair

  Please visit www.conradwater.ca for more detailed information.