Phase Behaviour and Physical Property Measurements for VAPEX Solvents: Part I. Propane and Athabasca Bitumen

The saturation pressure and solubility of propane in Athabasca bitumen, as well as the liquid phase densities and viscosities, were measured for temperatures from 10 to 50 degrees C. Equilibration proved challenging for this fluid mixture and required some experimental modifications that are discussed. Only liquid and liquid-vapour phase regions were observed at propane contents below 20 wt%. A second liquid phase appeared to have formed at higher propane contents. The saturation pressures, where only a single dense phase formed, ranged from 600 to 1,600 kPa and these were fitted with a modification to Raoult's law. Viscosities less than 210 mPa.s were obtained at a propane content of 15.6 wt%. All of the viscosity data of the liquid phase were predicted from the propane and bitumen viscosities using the Lobe mixing rule.