Thermodynamic Characterization of Asphaltene Behavior by Viscosity Monitoring and Modeling by Modified Solid Model

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Modeling and Software Group Upstream Section, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, (RIPI), Tehran, Iran

2 Thermodynamic Group, Chemical Faculty, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

3 Petroleum University of Technology, Petroleum Faculty, Engineering Gas Engineering Group, Abadan, Iran

Abstract

Asphaltenes constitute the main hydrocarbon precipitants of crude oil which have been formed and deposited due to the effect of changing temperature, pressure and composition.. The phase separation of these heavy solid precipitates could alter rheological properties of reservoir fluids (e.g. by increasing pressure drop in pipes, reducing well productivity and ultimately stopping production).  Detection of the time and location of phase separation is one of the major challenges in production assurance. To achieve this target, the thermodynamic conditions that induce precipitation of Asphaltenes in the oil medium (a.k.a. onset of precipitation) needs to be determined. On the other hand, the content of precipitation is important to characterize the thermodynamic behavior of Asphaltene. Viscosity is a reliable parameter for detection of phase separation Asphaltene precipitation in both onset point and content. In this study, the viscosimetry method is used for detection of onset of precipitation and the results are compared with that of other common methods of solid detection. The results indicate that the viscosity method has acceptable accuracy for crude oils with an API range of 18 to 40 and a wide pressure range (atmospheric to high pressure conditions). Solid solution theory is used for the modeling of thermodynamic behavior. In our study, Asphaltene is introduced as an individual component in Solid-Liquid-Vapor Equilibrium calculation. So rather than common solid model our modification take it easy to use the real physical properties of Asphaltene; such as, molecular weight and molar volume.
 

Keywords

References

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Journal of Petroleum Research
Volume 26, 95-4 - Serial Number 89
January and February 2017
Pages 103-115

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