The Northern Gateway Pipeline and similar projects propose to transport oil from Alberta to tidewater terminals in British Columbia and eastern Canada. Accidental release of petroleum distillates and related by-products would have consequences on the marine ecosystem. To evaluate spill implications for seabirds, we propose to develop and apply molecular tools to assess toxicological and […]

Corrosion of metal-based infrastructure (for example, pipes) is an enormously costly problem faced by many industries including power generation, oil production, transportation, beverage production and water storage and distribution. It is now known that microorganisms can in many cases cause and/or worsen metal corrosion – a phenomenon known as microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). OSP Microcheck […]

In 2009 the Government of Ontario enacted the Green Energy Act (GEA) to promote the development of renewable energy projects. Subsequently, the importance of wind generation both for electricity generation and in public debate has grown dramatically in Ontario. While the GEA simplified the regulatory process for developing renewable energy projects, wing turbine siting has […]

Properties of metallurgical coke are very important in production of iron using blast furnace. About 90% of the coking coals produced are used for this purpose. Coal rank was historically used to evaluate coal for production of metallurgical coke. Coke reactivity index (CRI) and coke strength after reaction (CSR) with carbon dioxide are now routinely […]

Hydrocarbons are hosted in porous sedimentary rocks which were deposited several million years prior to the ingress of hydrocarbons. Once these sedimentary rocks are deposited, other physical, chemical and biological, all termed diagenetic, processes act to modify their original properties. A major product of this diagenesis is cementation. The cement (minerals) occludes (plugs) the pore […]

Heavy oil production by oil sands surface mining and/or steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processes presents many challenges, but oil and water separation is among the most critical within the industry. The crude oil coming out of reservoir normally carries significant concentration of bitumen and other surface-active species (e.g., asphaltenes, naphthenic acid and even solid […]

Notre monde moderne ne peut subsister sans l’apport continuel de métaux extraits du sol. Les gisements métallifères doivent être découverts. Ces découvertes résultent de travaux d’exploration. Pour guider les travaux d’exploration, des modèles de formation des gisements sont développés à partir de l’acquisition de données scientifiques. Le projet proposé vise à tester un modèle développé […]

L’accès à des zones minéralisées sous les infrastructures existantes d’une mine en opération constitue un défi de taille pour les équipes d’ingénierie minière. Plusieurs facteurs doivent être considérés pour permettre l’extraction de ces zones de façon économique. Le stagiaire de maîtrise développera un modèle, sous forme de chiffrier électronique, qui permettra une évaluation technique et […]

Unprecedented climate warming and human disturbance in the border region of the Northwest Territories and northeastern British Columbia (NEBC) has led to widespread permafrost thaw and land cover change that has disrupted the hydrological cycle and the industrial activities that depend upon it. To address this concern, Wilfrid Laurier University in collaboration with Nexen Energy […]

The boreal forest is an essential breeding ground for hundreds of North America’s bird species, yet it is poorly studied. Many of these birds are rapidly declining, including a group of birds called the aerial insectivores. These birds are not necessarily related to each other, but instead they share a behaviour: they all catch insects […]

La fabrication de batteries à flux d’oxydoréduction au vanadium nécessite la production d’un concentré de vanadium de haute pureté. La présence de contaminants dans le concentré pourrait limiter la durée de vie de ces batteries. Puisque ces contaminants proviennent des minéraux qui constituent le minerai de vanadium, le développement de modèles géométallurgiques s’avère être le […]

Shear zone-hosted, or orogenic, gold deposits are a significant mineral resource in the Superior Province of Canada. This study will investigate the nature and genesis of gold mineralisation in the Red Lake area of the Uchi subprovince. Recent exploration by Bounty Gold Corp. has identified Au mineralisation in the Laird Lake area close to the […]