Mining Research and Development Projects

Okane is a leading innovator in the development of predictive modelling for mine landform management-tools to inform upon management strategies and reduce closure risk. Our research and development teams are continuing to develop enhanced add-ins to commercially available software to decrease modelling turnaround times and increase accuracy of our models’ predictive capabilities.

Additions to the model in 2022 included the development of a thermal module that will support improved modelling of temperature differential through a landform due to convective heat transport by air flow. In 2023, our team is focusing on a tailings consolidation module that will inform the design and planning process for decommissioning and unloading tailings storage facilities during closure.

Project Champion: Robert Shurniak, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Robert is an expert in the use and development of numerical models as they relate to mine closure planning. Specifically, this involves simulating soil-plant-atmosphere and saturated/unsaturated water movement over, around, and through any material or vegetation used in mine operations and closure. Since starting with Okane in 2002, Robert has supervised, managed, and advised on numerous numerical modelling projects. Robert leads Okane’s modelling team and ensures our projects benefit from the latest advancements in modelling software. He has developed over 50 long-term climate databases, accounting for historical climate and predicted future climate change, for a range of sites (arctic to arid) around the world. He also has experience designing, installing, and maintaining field monitoring systems and evaluating data from such installations.

It has long been recognized that scaling up of standard industry kinetic tools can be problematic in predicting long term water quality. Okane’s advanced customizable leach columns (ACLCs) assess seepage chemistry in a controlled manner representative of in-situ temperature, moisture, and pore gas fluxes to better replicate site conditions, reducing the need for scaling when modelling.

In 2023, our team is collaborating with research institutions and industry partners to evaluate upgrades to ACLC construction materials, control systems, automated monitoring equipment and procedures to assess the application of the ACLC programs to a wider range of materials and site conditions.

Project Champion – Mark Phillip, M.Sc.
Mark Phillip is a senior environmental engineer who has been working with Okane since 2004 when he moved from New Mexico to Fort McMurray to manage an oil sands project reclamation monitoring network. Mark is now based in Montana and leads Okane’s mine closure projects in the Western United States, as well as provides senior technical expertise to projects across the company. He has extensive experience with the design and performance monitoring of cover system field trials for mine sites across Canada, the United States of America, and throughout Australia.

Okane is a leading innovator in the development of digital twins and predictive modelling for the effective management of mine waste landforms. Our research and development team are in the process of developing enhanced add-ins to commercially available software that decrease modelling turnaround times and increase accuracy of their predictive capabilities.

Project Champion: Robert Shurniak, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Robert is an expert in the use and development of numerical models as they relate to mine closure planning; specifically, simulating soil-plant-atmosphere and saturated / unsaturated water movement over, around, and through any material or vegetation used in mine operations and closure. Since beginning with Okane in 2002, Robert has supervised, managed, and advised on numerous numerical modelling projects. Robert has developed over 50 long-term climate databases, accounting for historical climate and predicted future climate change, for a range of sites (arctic to arid) around the world. He also has experience designing, installing, and maintaining field monitoring systems and evaluating data from such installations.

Robert is the Numerical Modelling Group Leader for Okane and he ensures all modelling projects are completed to Okane’s high standards using state-of-the-art modelling software. Research and development of new modelling tools to assist with mine closure are a priority at Okane. For example, mine rock storage (MRS) typically generates approximately 80% of a site’s overall acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD-ML) load. Modelling tools are important for determining the impetus for ARD-ML generation at a given site and to test potential mitigation methods. Okane regularly collaborates with research institutions to help drive innovation and share learnings with industry. Our technical experts are assisting researchers with the development of an in-depth tool for climate and soil-plant-atmosphere analysis, and to evaluate how climate change is influencing current monitoring, spatial variability, and cover system performance changes with time.

Okane regularly collaborates with research institutions to help drive innovation and share learnings with industry. Our technical experts are assisting researchers with the development of an in-depth tool for climate and soil-plant-atmosphere analysis, and to evaluate how climate change is influencing current monitoring, spatial variability, and cover system performance changes with time.

Project Champion: Robert Shurniak, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Robert is an expert in the use and development of numerical models as they relate to mine closure planning; specifically, simulating soil-plant-atmosphere and saturated / unsaturated water movement over, around, and through any material or vegetation used in mine operations and closure.  Since beginning with Okane in 2002, Robert has supervised, managed, and advised on numerous numerical modelling projects.  Robert has developed over 50 long-term climate databases, accounting for historical climate and predicted future climate change, for a range of sites (arctic to arid) around the world.  He also has experience designing, installing, and maintaining field monitoring systems and evaluating data from such installations.

Robert is the Numerical Modelling Group Leader for Okane and he ensures all modelling projects are completed to Okane’s high standards using state-of-the-art modelling software.  Research and development of new modelling tools to assist with mine closure are a priority at Okane. For example, mine rock storage (MRS) typically generates approximately 80% of a site’s overall acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD-ML) load. Modelling tools are important for determining the impetus for ARD-ML generation at a given site and to test potential mitigation methods.

Okane has extensive experience in simulating water balances for application in water management and cover system performance estimates. Our research and development team are in the process of validating a commercially available hydrological model used to estimate snow water equivalent in catchments for inputs into water balances.

Project Champion: Luke Kary, B.Sc., GIT

Luke is a Geoscientist in Training with Okane based in the Elk Valley of British Columbia where work and play thrive in a rugged mountainous environment. Combining experience in hydrology, geomorphology, and avalanche education, Luke is exploring tools to quantify and map the distribution of winter precipitation across landforms to assist clients in achieving their water management goals. Using data from Okane’s long term monitoring programs, spatially distributed numerical models, and ground truthing measurements, Luke looks to enhance the understanding of snow hydrology and its impacts on mine affected landscapes.

Okane has recognized the industry need for a tool to assist with the development and selection of strategies that achieve target returning land uses for mine affected lands, and associated mining landforms. Our mine planning experts are developing a tool that will address this industry need.

Project Champion: Jeremy Mitchell, B.Sc., E.I.T.

Jeremy Mitchell is an Engineer in Training based out of Okane’s Calgary Office. Jeremy focuses on providing clients with sustainable tailings, waste rock, and water management solutions which mitigate mining risks to the surrounding environment and communities. Mismanagement of mine waste over a mine’s operational timeline can have negative effects on their post closure landscapes, which is why Jeremy is so passionate about helping operational mines make practical and sustainable mine waste management decisions with closure in mind.

Through involvement in R&D, Jeremy hopes to lead the team in developing a land use strategy roadmap which can be easily integrated into day-to-day decision making at the operational level in order to ensure mine operators are well prepared for closure, and are able to effectively return reclaimed land back to its surrounding environment.

It has long been recognized that scaling up of standard industry kinetic tools can be problematic in predicting long term water quality. Okane’s advanced customizable leach columns (ACLCs) can better replicate site conditions and reduce the need for scaling factors when modelling. Our team is collaborating with research institutions and using Okane’s ACLCs to investigate the impact of scaling factors. The project aims to improve methodologies for scaling from the laboratory bench to the field.

Project Champion: Mark Phillip, M.Sc.

Mark Phillip has been with Okane since 2004 when he moved from New Mexico to Fort McMurray to manage Syncrude’s reclamation monitoring network.  He has extensive experience with cover system field trials and performance monitoring systems, which has involved integrating laboratory and field testing to assess compaction trials and develop quality assurance/quality control specifications. Cover system design, mine waste geochemistry, and mine waste structural design will influence in situ pore gas composition, which may become subtoxic and mitigate the geochemical potential present in an oxidizing environment. Okane’s ACLCs provide the opportunity to assess seepage chemistry in a controlled manner representative of in situ temperature, and moisture and pore gas fluxes.  Assessing upgrades to ACLC construction materials, control systems, automated monitoring equipment and procedures will provide improved confidence in the ability to assess site-specific in situ conditions.  Mark is excited to work on this project and advance the ability to provide more complete mine closure design.

Management and control of potentially acid forming (PAF) wastes is a significant issue for the mining industry, with an estimated cost in the billions to control. Cover systems that manage the amount of water and oxygen entering the PAF material (i.e., geochemical stability), while also contributing to physical stability (i.e., erosional and geotechnical stability) are commonly used to manage this risk. This collaborative CRC project involves both industry and academia to examine cover system integrity by evaluating the structural and biophysical changes that have occurred over time, and comparing them to original designs and as-built characteristics. Okane will provide technical advisory services based on extensive experience regarding cover system construction, monitoring, and evolution.

Project Champion: Mike O’Kane, M.Sc., P. Eng.

Mike O’Kane founded Okane in 1996 and continues to work as a senior technical advisor. He utilizes a life of asset value framework that incorporates evaluation for optimizing the “best” next land use with an acceptable level of residual risk while maximizing incremental net present value and achieving progressive ESG outcomes.  Mike is also a director of the Landform Design Institute and chair of its Technical Advisory Panel. Mike recognizes the importance of research and development in advancing industry practice and emerging technologies. He places high importance on technology transfer to ensure that findings from research are applied at the industry level.

Okane has a long history of collaborating with industry and research institutions to help drive innovation in our industry. Our technical experts are providing technical guidance and facilitating collaboration for the investigation of controls on geomembrane leakage to further understanding of this process and its implications to the industry.

Project Champion: Mark Phillip, M.Sc., E.I.T.

Mark Phillip is a Senior Environmental Engineer that has been with Okane since 2004 when he moved from New Mexico to Fort McMurray to manage a reclamation monitoring network. He has extensive experience with cover system field trials and performance monitoring systems. The former has involved integrating laboratory and field testing to assess compaction trials and develop quality assurance/quality control specifications. Accurately measuring water balance components of runoff and net percolation introduced Mark to geosynthetics, starting him on a path that has involved a variety of geomembranes, geocomposites, and geotextiles. Originally viewing geosynthetics with concern in favour of natural materials, Mark, now in Okane’s Montana office, has come to appreciate their use in mine reclamation when developing a landform that supports a returning land use. Mark is very happy to be assisting the Okane R&D effort, an important charge that can enhance options for clients and advance industry practice.

Okane has extensive experience in landform design, including landform evolution and erosion modelling. Our research and development team is in the process of developing a position paper to outline our preferred methods for this type of predictive modelling, to further knowledge on this topic.

Project Champion: Ian Taylor, B.Eng. Env. Hons. MIEAus

Ian joined Okane in 2013 and is a Senior Environmental Engineer based in Okane’s Perth office with seventeen years of experience in civil and mining projects, mine rehabilitation and closure, and related geo-environmental projects. Ian has extensive experience in mine landform design, surface water design and assessment, hydrology/hydraulics, landform evolution assessments, and erosional stability assessments. Ian continues his professional development through industry conferences and targeted research programs. Erosion research is a specific area of interest for Ian as understanding the science of erosion processes is key to engineering inherently stable landform designs.

Okane is committed to cultivating institutional knowledge. Our project champion is writing a journal paper regarding the hydrogeological and geochemical components of a Hydrology and Geochemical Model, to further knowledge of mine rock stockpile management.

Project Champion: Dr. Jared Robertson, Ph.D., E.I.T.

Jared has been a Geochemist with Okane since 2018, focusing primarily on different modelling approaches of acid rock drainage processes (ARD) and leading the development of the ACLCs in the Saskatoon laboratory. Jared has provided geochemical support for clients around the world by connecting the geochemistry of their site to improved closure outcomes. Having spent several years in academia, Jared has a strong link to the research and development world and enjoys applying R&D to larger scale settings. Developing the industry’s understanding of ARD processes is a critical component to helping Okane’s clients by lowering the risk of ARD release to environmental receptors and decreasing the cost of treatment. Jared is actively involved with Okane R&D to help create a more sustainable industry for future generations.

Okane is a leading innovator in the development of digital twins and predictive modelling for mined rock management. Our research and development team are in the process of developing enhanced add-ins to commercially available software to decrease modelling turnaround times and increase accuracy of their predictive capabilities.

Project Champion: Robert Shurniak, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Robert is an expert in the use and development of numerical models as they relate to mine closure planning; specifically, simulating soil-plant-atmosphere and saturated / unsaturated water movement over, around and through any material or vegetation used in mine operations and closure. Since beginning with Okane in 2002, Robert has supervised, managed, and advised on numerous numerical modelling projects. Robert has developed over 50 long-term climate databases, accounting for historical climate and predicted future climate change, for a range of sites (arctic to arid) around the world. He also has experience designing, installing, and maintaining field monitoring systems and evaluating the results from such installations. Robert is the Numerical Modelling Group Leader for Okane and he ensures all modelling projects are completed to Okane’s high standards using state-of-the-art modelling software. Research and development of new modelling tools for simulating mine rock storage (MRS) are a priority at Okane, as MRSs typically generate about 80% of a site’s overall acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD-ML) load. Modelling tools are important for determining the impetus for ARD-ML generation at a given site and to test potential mitigation methods.