The geotechnical response of an oil sands reservoir to in situ heating or to fluid pressure increase results in stresses and deformations which affect hydraulic fracture propagation, formation shearing, well casing performance, the stability of underground openings (uncased wells, tunnels and shafts), and the magnitude of surface heave. The analytical procedures used to model the above mechanisms must simulate fully-coupled thermal-mechanical-fluid flow behaviour (heat consolidation analysis). For these procedures to be utilized for quantitative geotechnical design, material models must be developed and implemented based on an intimate and fundamental understanding of the geotechnical behaviour of the geologically complex and variable reservoir materials. The research documented in this thesis investigates and evaluates the geotechnical behaviour of oil sands and related strata through representative laboratory testing.

The geomechanical behaviour of Athabasca and Cold Lake oil sands, as well as that of overlying, underlying and interbedded strata over a range in temperature of 20$\sp\circ$C to 300$\sp\circ$C and effective confining stresses to 7 MPa was investigated. The fundamental influence of temperature, pressure, stress and temperature path, time and history of stress on shear strength, stress-strain and thermal volume change behaviour is examined. The use of geological and geotechnical facies to analyze and interpret laboratory test results is described.

The mechanical properties of Athabasca and Cold Lake formation materials were found to be dependent on temperature, pressure and stress path followed during the test. Cold Lake Clearwater Formation oil sands were weaker and more deformable than Athabasca McMurray Formation oil sands and contained minerals which were more susceptible to pressure and temperature induced grain breakage. As a result, the geotechnical properties vary significantly for the two oil sands. The geotechnical behaviour of oil sands was also found to be dependent on the amount of fines present in the specimen. The Clearwater Formation shale properties were strongly affected by temperature. During heating, the shale shows a volume decrease due to structural breakdown. After slow heating, the shales exhibit higher strengths and modulii. The majority of geotechnical properties of oil sands and associated strata vary non-linearly with pressure and temperature.