On the high stress compression of Canadian oil sand

  • D. H. Doan
  • , P. Delage
  • , J. F. Nauroy
  • , A. M. Tang
  • , M. Mainguy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

High stress oedometric compression tests (maximum 65 MPa) were carried out on samples of oil sand from Athabasca. X-Ray microtomography observation suggested that the initially dense interlocked grain fabric of the natural specimen has been altered by extraction, stress release, temperature change, storage, transport and sample trimming, resulting in a clearly apparent micro-crack network. Some time dependent effects that overestimated sample compressibility were observed when using the standard step loading procedures and a procedure with short steps (5 mn instead of 24 h) appeared to be better adapted. At low stresses, the sample disturbance appeared to overestimate the sand compressibility and it is suggested that better parameters could be obtained once submitting the sample to the maximum stress supported during its geological history (here 24 MPa). Grain crushing at high stresses was also evidenced and the role of grain crushing during the history of the deposit was also commented.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 73rd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2011 - Incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2011
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers
Pages991-995
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781617829666
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

Publication series

Name73rd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2011: Unconventional Resources and the Role of Technology. Incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2011
Volume2

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