Associates
Resume for: Mike MacKinnon
Oil Sands Water Expert
Contact Information: 470 Beach Blvd. Unit 54
Hamilton, ON, L8H 6X2
Phone: (289) 389-1830
Email: mccmac09@cogeco.ca
Summary of Qualifications
Mike has spent his career becoming expert in aquatic issues facing oil sands developments. He offers a skill set of and a track record for problem-solving of all facets of aquatic issues, including process impacts, characterization, environmental assessments and reclamation options of waters. His industrial experience specialized on water challenges associated with the surface oil sands operations in the Athabasca Oil Sands of northern Alberta.
His academic studies led him to a Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography at Dalhousie University where his main research interest was the dissolved organic fractions in marine environments. This was followed by a three year stint in a Marine Analytical Standards program at NRC’s Atlantic Regional Lab in Halifax, N.S.
Heading west to be part of Alberta’s oil sands, Mike spent 30 years conducting research at Syncrude Canada Ltd. His project portfolio was directed towards understanding and solving environmental challenges of water management in the oil sands industry and mitigation of their detrimental properties. In his studies, he played a pivotal role in the development of reclamation and water treatment options that are applicable to the oil sands region. As a Research Associate at Syncrude’s Edmonton Research Centre, he focused on the full cycle of aquatic issues of an oil sands operation from:
Impact of ore properties and processing activities on water, known as OSPW (oil sands process-affected water),
Role of tailings and water management on water quality,
Development of environmental studies to assess water quality, defining performance criteria and evaluating reclamation options,
Mitigation of detrimental properties of OSPW through treatments, both passive bioremediation and engineered options.
Through field and laboratory studies, Mike’s knowledge of water issues and potential solutions within the oil sands community was honed. Having the opportunity to follow the growth of the Syncrude operation provided him with a breadth of experience in addressing aquatic issues associated with oil sands surface mining operations and his resulting skill set is well recognized.
Mike acknowledges that many of the successes in his career at Syncrude resulted from a proactive collaboration with his industry and academic colleagues. He was a champion of partnering of academia and industry throughout his Syncrude tenure. Exposing academia to the needs of industry resulted in scientific progress and a general reward to industry. These collaborative efforts generated many breakthroughs that added to understanding aquatic issues in oil sands operations. This included the development of analytical tools, evaluation of biological indicators and assessments of reclamation methods. Much of this has been published in both refereed journals and industry reports. Mike has also been an active and vocal participant in a number to industry initiatives including CONRAD, RAMP, OSTRF, CEMA, CFRAW, CWN, and FTFC.
Mike offers unique talents in addressing aquatic issues in oil sands developments. These include a vast experience and proven ability to problem-solve, as well as strong communication capabilities.
Selected Project Experiences
Mike has an abundance of relevant experience in solving water issues and looking at practical and workable solutions within the context of oil sands operations. Optimization of water management through selective and targeted treatment approaches has been his goal. His track record demonstrates a breadth of experience and history that are unique as he has shown the relationship between process and reclamation needs.
Examples of the range of projects with which he has been involved during his tenure at Syncrude are summarized below:
Tailings characterization: role of ore and process conditions, produced water (OSPW) and tailings (sand, porewaters, fine tailings),
Settling Basin development: physical, chemical and biological processes and impacts, including the rates of growth and in situ changes,
Water management: quantity and quality, role of ore (leachable ions), impacts on operational integrity,
Toxicological studies for both on site and off lease effects,
Naphthenic acid studies: analytical methods, source, fate, bioremediation pathways, treatment options, regulatory criteria, role in extraction, impacts on upgrading,
OSPW treatment: for recycle, replacement and return,
Microbial studies: distribution, identification of populations, role and by-products of biogenic gases such as CH4, H2S, and CO2,
Groundwater: evaluation and selection of tracer properties, annual regulatory reporting, and seepage potential of specific OSPW constituents ,
Aquatic reclamation options: water capping fine tails (End Pit Lakes), natural bioremediation, wetland processes,
Tainting potential; methods, bioaccumulation factors, immune response, biochemical indicators,
Water treatment: bioremediation, physical-chemical methods, adsorption (PAC, petroleum coke), membranes (nanofiltration, reverse osmosis), ozonation, advanced oxidation (O3, AOP),
Engineered tails: water quality factors associated with composite tails (CT), alternative chemicals for CT, polymer-based thickened tailings (TT), accelerated MFT densification, freeze-thaw,
Wetland studies: water quality, limitations and role in lease closure,
Hydrology and seepage: impacts and attenuation processes
Modeling of water quality, meromixis potential, SOD and DO profiles,
Impacts of upgrading waste waters on SO4 and NH4 on OSPW and reclamation potential,
Base Mine Lake (first full-scale EPL demonstration) development,
Ecological risk assessment and water quality criteria.
External Contacts: direct involvement in technical reports by CONRAD, CEMA, RAMP, CFRAW, CWN, OSTRF and earlier groups such as FTFC. University partners and collaborative projects with U. of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Waterloo, Windsor, Wilfred Laurier, Guelph, Manitoba, Brock, Calgary, British Columbia, Simon Fraser
Presentations: Numerous presentations to both national and international groups.
Education & Training:
1971-1977: Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax N.S.
1967-1971: BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Math, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, N.S.
Work History:
1979-2009: Senior Research Associate at Syncrude Canada Ltd. Research Dept., Edmonton, AB
1976-1979: Research Scientist in the Marine Analytical Standards Program at the ARL of NRC, Halifax N.S.
Professional Affiliation:
CSC