Evaluation of Geosynthetic Liners in Waste Ponds

Document No:

Subject: Technical Evaluation of a Liner System for the Raw Water Pond

Reference Drawings:

PL212-A-3-1, Rev. 1D, Plot Plan - Raw Water Pond, Issued for Design, October 24, 2007

Reference Documents:

Suncor Voyageur Upgrader – Document No. 03-00004-SE-2A-00-3.3-1

Suncor Voyageur Upgrader - Phase 3 Geotechnical Report, dated July 20, 2007, AMEC

Suncor Voyageur Upgrader - Supplementary Recommendations for Dewatering at Raw Water Pond and Availability of Clay for Pond Liner Construction, dated September 6, 2007, AMEC

Suncor Voyageur Upgrader – Preliminary Estimate of Seepage and Leakage at Unlined Raw Water Pond, dated October 16, 2007, AMEC

Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Guide 55: Storage Requirements for the Upstream Petroleum Industry, dated December 2001

U.S. EPA, Guide for Industrial Waste Management, Part IV: Protecting Groundwater, Chapter 7: Section B, Designing and Installing Liners

Topics for Discussion:

1.0 Need for a Liner System

2.0 Compacted Clay Liner

3.0 Liner Comparison

4.0 Conclusion

1.0 Need for a Liner System:

1.1 Assessment:

It is our assessment that a liner is needed in the raw water pond for two reasons:

• Preventing loss due to seepage of plant utility and fire water that is pumped from the Athabasca River at considerable expense.

• Risk of possible contamination of the raw water supply due to infiltration of contaminated ground water (from tailings or other unknown events).

To address the risk of water loss due to seepage in an unlined pond, a scope of work was sent to AMEC on October 1, 2007, to address the following scenarios:

• Groundwater level remains at its average pre-development level of approximately 1084 ft. The utility water, from 1091.5 to 1088.15, and most of the fire water, from 1088.15 to 1084.00, could experience seepage losses along the side walls of the pond.

• Groundwater level falls...