| The Stoney Creek oil field, located in New Brunswick, Canada, shows inconsistent oil production rates suspected to be caused by paraffin wax deposition, which has limited the cumulative oil recovery to 6% of the original oil in place. This thesis presents a systematic study conducted on this oil to determine its chemical base. The study includes field observations, multiple chemical analytical techniques, and a detailed rheological characterization of the oil. Results show that the Stoney Creek oil is naphthene based, not paraffin based. Furthermore, it is concluded that the erratic oil production is associated with the synergistic effect of loss of light components from the oil due to an unusually large weathering effect and the formation of naphthene microcrystals. Recommendations include the implementation of optimized chemical treatments based on methodologies developed in this work to inhibit the formation of naphthene microcrystals and production stimulation techniques such as hydraulic fracturing. |
