Comparative Kinetics and Thermal Behavior: The Study of Crude Oils Derived from Fosterton and Neilburg Fields of Saskatchewan

Pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of two different crude oil samples obtained from Fosterton (medium oil) and Neilburg (heavy oil) fields in Saskatchewan were studied and compared using the results of thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG) analyses. In addition, the properties of whole oil and asphaltene were determined by means of proximate and ultimate analyses. The analyses indicate that asphaltene from both Fosterton and Neilburg fields has a lower volatile matter and ash content as well as higher fixed carbon values when compared to the values of the respective whole oil. From the elemental analysis, it was determined that the H/C ratio is approximately the same for both reservoirs whole oil and asphaltenes. The reaction region, peak, and burnout temperatures of the samples were also determined. The Arrhenius equation provides kinetic data: activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and order of the reaction. The kinetic analysis showed similar activation energy for the combustion of coke produced from Neilburg and Fosterton oils, as 129.5 and 127 kJ/mol, respectively. The activation energy for Neilburg and Fosterton asphaltenes were 117.7 and 93.46 kJ/mol, respectively.