Sustainability

Froth treatment tailings are deposited into tailings ponds, where between 5% and 30% of the solvent mass can volatilize into the atmosphere as VOCs, depending on temperature and other atmospheric conditions. This flashed naphtha can account for a significant proportion, in excess of 50%, of reported oil sands mining VOC emissions.

CCVW™ can eliminate over 90% of the VOC emissions from froth treatment tailings

What are VOCs and Their Health Effects

VOCs are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs are found in both outdoor and indoor air.

Some VOCs are considered to be carcinogenic and VOCs can cause severe irritations to the eyes, nose and throat. Exposure to VOCs can also cause fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and breathing problems.

Oil sands tailings ponds have been associated with fugitive emissions of VOCs and other pollutants to the atmosphere

VOC Underreporting

In January 2024, a study published in the Journal of Science by Yale University and Environment and Climate Change Canada found that Carbon emissions from Canada’s oil sands are being significantly underreported. Specifically, the study found that actual emission rates were 20 to 64 times greater than those in the Alberta Emissions Inventory Report and Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory

CVW™ reduces the solvent from oil sands tailings by over 90%, eliminating over 90% of the associated VOC emissions – regardless of the potential underreporting

VOC Abatement From a CVW™ Implementation

Implementation of the CVW technology would abate up to 5,000 tonnes of VOCs annual per oil sands mining site. An industry-wide deployment of the CVW technology could abate up to 30,000 tonnes of VOCs.