Characterization of GHG Fugitive Emissions from an Oil Sands Tailings Pond in Northern Alberta: Results from an Initial Assessment

We are pleased to invite you to our next CPANS Edmonton luncheon on an Albertan mine GHG emission characterization study. The study used flux chambers to quantify emission rates and provided insight to temporal variation.

Presenter: Lucas Zhang

About the presentation:

The oil sands tailings ponds are a significant source of GHG emissions in Alberta. Typical GHG emission measurements over oil sands tailings pond use flux chambers and take a single measurement of 30 to 90 minutes that may not account for temporal variability of emissions. An autonomous mobile platform was deployed at a tailings pond near an active mine site in Northern Alberta for a 5-day GHG emission characterization study in the fall of 2016. GHG emissions were sampled and measured with a flux chamber and a CO2/CH4 analyzer on board. The combination of two solar panels and two heavy-duty lead-acid batteries provided enough power for up to 13 hours of operation. The autonomous mobile platform collected 111 CO2 emission data points over 5 days at three different locations of the tailings pond during this study. The individual CO2 flux rates ranged from 0.22 – 1.15 µmol/(m2-sec) with daily average CO2 flux rates ranged from 0.45 to 0.72 µmol/(m2-sec). The daytime and nighttime flux rates measured at all three locations showed no significant differences. The CH4 emissions followed a different pattern compared to that of CO2 as peaks of CH4 concentration above background were recorded under both open- and closed- statuses of the flux chamber. The CH4 signals collected under the chamber-closed status were not representative of the true CH4 emissions. This was likely due to the spatial irregularity of the CH4 emission at the three sampling sites and the small cross-section area of the flux chamber on board the platform. The study provided insight into the temporal variation of GHG emissions from the tailings pond and demonstrated the potential of the autonomous mobile platform for measuring emissions on tailings ponds.

About the Presenters:

Lucas Zhang
Lucas Zhang is the Director of the Conventional Oil and Gas Aggregate Program under the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation. He started working for the Government of Alberta in 2016 and has focused on quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and ambient air monitoring in the oil sands region, and more recently, implementing the TIER Regulation with respect to the conventional oil and gas sector. He holds degrees in Environmental Engineering and brings expertise in data analysis, computer programming, process automation, regulatory implementation, and stakeholder engagement. He’s looking forward to sharing his experience in measuring emissions from a tailings pond today.

When:

April 16th, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Venue:

University Club, University of Alberta
11435 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G9

The U of A campus is accessible via light rail transit and bus. Attendees are encouraged to use public transit or ride-share. *** New: Parking is available at the Windsor car park (Note: You cannot park at the V-parking lot) ***

Registration:

Please register by Tuesday, April 15 to secure your spot and ensure we order the correct number of lunches. Online registration and payment options, including credit card payments, are available through the links below:

In-Person Registration:

Member Registration ($40)

Non-member Registration ($50)

Student Registration ($15)

Webinar Registration:

Group Webinar Registration ($80)

Single Webinar Registration ($20)

Season Pass Option:

Member Seasonal Pass ($280)

Non-Member Seasonal Pass ($350)

Season Pass Registration grants access to all seven remaining Edmonton luncheons, offering a valuable opportunity to network and gain continuous professional insights throughout the season.