Thermophysical characterization of oil sands. 2. Acoustic properties

Propagation characteristics of shear (S) and compressional (P) waves are investigated for oil sands from the Athabasca, P.R. Spring, N.W. Asphalt Ridge and Circle Cliffs deposits. These studies are oriented towards applications of acoustic techniques in characterization, diagnostics and control of in-situ extraction methods currently envisaged for oil sand bitumen. The magnitude of the temperature dependence of S and P wave velocities is directly related to the bitumen content of the oil sand. The origin of the pronounced changes in Sand P wave velocities (or travel times) in the temperature regions 24–200 °C and 425–500 °C is traced to the thermal decomposition of oil and sand bitumen. The S and P wave velocities generally decrease with increasing bitumen content. Other variables that are studied, such as moisture content and bulk density, have relatively minor effects on the magnitude of the measured S and P wave velocities.