Construction of Saline Creek Tunnel in Athabasca Oil Sand

• Published in: Canadian Geotechnical Journal
• Main Authors: Chatterji, P. K., Smith, L. B., Insley, A. E., Sharma, L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
• Subjects: Civil and Structural Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology; Fort McMurray; Saline Creek
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t79-009; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t79-009

Undisturbed oil sand is very dense and has a relatively high in situ shear strength. However, there is gas present within the oil sand, which causes it to swell once confining pressures are removed, and this results in a significant reduction in the strength of the material. Consequently, this swell...