The Syncrude Tailings Dam is a barrage dam that is, by volume of material, the largest dam in the world at 540,000,000 cubic meters. It is located near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The dam and the tailings pond within it are maintained as part of ongoing operations by Syncrude Canada Ltd. in extracting oil from the Athabasca Oil Sands.
The Syncrude Tailings Dam is a barrage dam used to store tailings left over from oil extraction process at the site. As part of the extraction process, voluminous quantities of tailings are produced as left over byproducts. Some of this material is solid material, and contributes to construction of the dam. Other material is in liquid form and is stored in a containment pond within the confines of the dam. As of 1997, up to 250,000 tons of tailings are produced daily at the site. The dam is constructed using an upstream method.
As of 2007, Syncrude Tailings Dam is the largest in the world by volume, approaching twice the size of the second largest dam in the world, Chapetón Dam in Argentina.
History
Construction of the dam began during the period 1973 to 1978 to support oil extraction operations from low depth oil sands. The official opening of the mining operation, and thus operation of the dam and containment pond, was on September 15, 1978. As mining operations continue, the dam and the containment pond within it continue to grow in size.
On April 29, 2008 migrating ducks landed on the ponds, causing many to be heavily oiled and hundreds of dying birds. A severe winter storm the week before delayed the installation/running of the usual noise-makers that deter birds from using the toxic sites. Environmental government agencies were not informed by Syncrude of the incident.
Other Information
- Name: Syncrude Tailings Dam
- Locale: Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
- Maintained by: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
- Length: 11.3 miles (18 km)
- Height: 131 ft to 288 ft (40 m to 88 m)
- Construction began: 1978
- Destruction date: Still in operation
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Grand Lisboa
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Tunnel and Reservoir Plan - Chicago, USA
The dam described is Syncrude’s Mildred Lake Settling Basin.
The bird deaths referenced occurred on Syncrude’s Aurora Settling Basin, another tailings pond located near the Mildred Lake site.
The Three Gorges Dam is now the largest earth-dam by volume.