Hydrocarbon Remediation at Closed Open Pit Goldmine

Client: Government of Canada
Location: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Industry: Mining

Project Overview:
SCG Remediation Services was contracted by a large engineering firm to support the cleanup of an abandoned open pit goldmine near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Closed in 1997 and now managed by the Government of Canada, the site required extensive remediation efforts to address hydrocarbon soil contamination, including the restoration of the Steeve’s Lake shoreline.

Key Challenges:

• Hydrocarbon Contamination: Significant free product contamination required focused extraction and monitoring efforts.
• Complex Site Dynamics: As an abandoned operation, the site presented unique logistical and environmental challenges, including the need to address contamination across multiple wells.

Technical Execution: SCG carried out a comprehensive remediation program between 2012 and 2013, which included:

• Groundwater Monitoring: Regular monitoring of groundwater conditions to identify contamination levels and ensure effective remediation.
• Free Product Recovery: Employed an EFR (Enhanced Fluid Recovery) unit to recover free product from targeted wells.
• Soil Remediation: Addressed hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, including restoring the Steeve’s Lake shoreline and treating recovered soil.
• Data Reporting: Provided detailed reports documenting extraction efforts and cumulative recovery volumes for stakeholder review.

Extraction Results:

• In 2012, approximately 10.7 liters of free product were recovered from seven wells.
• In 2013, recovery efforts expanded to 22 wells, yielding approximately 46 liters of free product.

Outcome: SCG successfully completed the hydrocarbon soil and water remediation efforts, supporting the site’s cleanup goals and contributing to its potential future viability. The project laid the groundwork for possible reopening of mining operations, contingent on economic conditions and the receipt of required permits.

Conclusion: This project demonstrates SCG Remediation Services’ capability to deliver tailored solutions for complex mining industry challenges. The remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and groundwater at the Yellowknife site underscores SCG’s expertise in supporting large-scale environmental cleanups, ensuring both compliance and the preservation of natural resources.