Abstract
Cold-bailed (untreated) Cold Lake crude asphaltenes have been compared to steam-stimulated Cold Lake crude and Cold Lake vacuum residuum asphaltenes by elemental analysis, vapour pressure osmometry, gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results of these analyses indicate that the steam stimulation procedure used to produce Cold Lake crude asphaltene results in significant changes in all of the measured characteristics except molecular weight. These changes include a decreased H C ratio, alterations in the carbon skeleton and functional groups, an increased percentage of aromatic carbon (as determined by 13C n.m.r.), and decreased volatiles evolution during thermogravimetric analyses. The changes occurring during steam stimulation, which are implied by these physical measurements, include side-chain dealkylation and/or aromatization of hydroaromatic rings and loss or alteration of some heteroatomic functional groups. Polymerization leading to high-molecular-weight materials was not observed.
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