Optimizing Slurry Pump Performance at Syncrude North Mine:
A Retrofit Case Study

- End-User 4 -

Description:

The Syncrude Mildred Lake Mine, operating for over 25 years, contributes approximately 45% of Syncrude’s bitumen froth production. In 2014, Froth production was transitioned to the newly commissioned North Mine, featuring a zero-reject, wet crushing front-end design aimed at increasing bitumen recovery and throughput. The increase in size and quantity of rocks has led to significantly increased equipment wear, particularly on Hydrotransport slurry pumps which have emerged as a key bottleneck, reducing Mean Time Between Maintenance for the pumps to just 2,000–2,400 operating hours.
 
In April 2024, a new slurry pump model with a larger impeller was installed at the site’s most severe wear location with an objective to improve reliability, availability, and hydraulic performance. Notably, the impeller nose clearance has been adjusted online—without impacting production—and wear rates are being actively tracked via an online sensor system.
 
This presentation will detail the retrofit process, share key learnings, and evaluate the operational performance of the new pump model. Implications for future slurry pump developments in high-wear mining environments will also be discussed.