posted on 2015-12-17, 07:40authored byMatthew A. Petersen, Claire
S. Henderson, Anthony
Y. Ku, Annie Q. Sun, David J. Pernitsky
Technology
development activities are routinely performed using
process water samples collected and stored for several months while
tests are being conducted. The results of the technology development
activities are highly correlated to the water composition and properties.
Processes such as atmospheric oxygen contamination, microbiological
activity, and ultraviolet (UV) oxidation have the potential to act
on a sample during long-term storage and modify the properties that
may be relevant to technology development testing. These changes are
referred to as “aging”. Process water samples collected
from a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) bitumen production plant
were subjected to different storage conditions and monitored for nearly
5 months. The sample organic composition and physical characteristics
of the water were found to be highly dependent upon storage conditions,
particularly atmospheric oxygen exposure. Oxygen exposure appeared
to drive abiotic polymerization and precipitation of phenolic species
and promote aerobic microbiological activity. These results highlight
the importance of excluding oxygen from the sample during collection
and storage activities. Sample aging must be accounted for in technology
development testing activities.