The effect of rock frame on elastic properties of bitumen sands

Abstract Elastic properties of bitumen reservoir change dramatically during thermal production, due to varying temperature and pressure conditions, which affect both the pore fluid and the rock frame. The effect of bitumen on the elastic properties of bitumen sands is widely studied, while the frame effect is commonly ignored. The influence of frame under different pressure and temperature conditions is investigated through laboratory measurements. Natural and artificial samples are compared to investigate the role of rock frame in their elastic properties. Samples with the same bitumen but different porosities are also compared, which reveals that the distinctions between the samples vary with temperature. Theoretical models are also applied to inspect the influence of rock frame, indicating the weak frame. In the end, two samples from Alaska and Alberta are compared, justifying the roles of bitumen and rock frame during the heating process. Our results reveal that rock frame of bitumen sands is quite loose, which may even damage during the heating process; and its influence on the rock elastic property is temperature dependent: at low temperature, its influence is insignificant, while at high temperature, its contribution is more important. These results suggest that for seismic monitoring of bitumen reservoir production, we should emphasize the temperature effect at the early stage and pay more attention to the pressure effect at the later stage of thermal production.