A new NACE Task Group (TG) 416, “Water Quality and Its Effect on Corrosion in Oil Sands
Operations,” has recently been formed to accommodate a growing need to assist owners and operators
in addressing materials selection, corrosion and other failure issues associated with water use that is
unique to the oil sands industry. The objective is for industry to openly share information anonymously
and bring together a state-of-the-art document that will assist all parties who deal with the unique
characteristics of oil sands water at their operating facilities. The report will address operational
challenges in thermal and mining oil sands operations with respect to corrosion, fouling, and scaling,
and include best design practices. The current paper reviews the scope of the document and reviews
the data received to date.
Keywords: oil sands, water, mining, thermal extraction, raw water, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage
(SAGD), Cyclic Steam Simulation (CSS), cooling water, steam, boiler, corrosion, material selection, life
cycle cost, water characteristics, microbiological influenced corrosion, chemical treatment