Rheological properties of oil sand bitumens

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Abstract
Bitumens extracted from oil sand taken from the Athabasca and Cold Lake regions of Alberta were studied by use of a Mechanical Spectrometer. A heavy crude produced in the Lloydminster area was also studied. Viscosity and first normal stress difference were measured as well as viscoelastic functions. The bitumens are mildly non‐Newtonian in shear and viscoelastic. The behavior is qualitatively similar to that observed in residual asphalts, but it is suggested that the bitumen maltenes form a better solvent for the asphaltenes than in the case with the asphalts. Concentration of solvent, asphaltenes and dispersed water have strong effects on the viscosity. These results are interpreted in terms of molecular aggregation.