Oil Sand Slurry Conditioning Tests in a 100 mm Pipeline Loop

Fresh oil sand slurries were prepared and tested in a 100 mm pipeline loop at 37°C to evaluate the effects of average flow velocity, slurry air content and air injection method (bulk or continuous) on slurry conditioning, i.e., the evolution of the in‐pipe processes that promote gravity separation of bitumen‐air aggregates from the remainder of the slurry. The potential separability of the bitumen in the slurry was evaluated using a slurry Conditioning Index (CI). When no air was injected into the slurry, the slurry CI was low (≤0.1), indicating very poor conditioning. An increase in flow velocity from 2 m/s to 4 m/s and injection of 5% air (by volume) dramatically improved the slurry CI, to ∼ 0.6. The improved slurry conditioning observed at the higher velocity is explained by the increased force of fluid turbulence experienced by the particles and the greatly enhanced bitumen‐air contact.