Characterization of heavy and medium oils from Saskatchewan reservoirs

ABSTRACT Physical and chemical properties of oils are not available for most of Saskatchewan reservoirs. Hence, standard and specialized oil and water analyses were performed on fluids obtained from nineteen medium and heavy oil reservoirs. Seven of these reservoirs are producing under steam and fireflood processes. The results of the oil analysis suggest that thermal history of the oil can be monitored by GC-MS techniques and viscosity measurements. 011 samples from different wells within a reservoir demonstrated significant differences 1n density, viscosity and other properties. The water analysis data show that the variation in resistivity, total dissolved solids, pH and the concentration of the Ions present 1n the wellhead water samples as a function of time could be a useful Indicator for the flow pattern and flushing efficiency of steam or the advancement of the firefront and the extent of oil oxidation during thermal recovery processes.