A conceptual modeling to predict asphaltene molecules fate within an annulus control volume
As crude oil gets denser and heavier, the precipitation and deposition of asphaltene causes severe problems in various sectors of oil industry from oil reservoirs to refineries. Asphaltene deposition in some wellbores may cause a partial or total production loss depending on its severity. Several st...
Saved in:
| Published in: | Journal of molecular liquids Vol. 292; p. 111414 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V
15-10-2019
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | As crude oil gets denser and heavier, the precipitation and deposition of asphaltene causes severe problems in various sectors of oil industry from oil reservoirs to refineries. Asphaltene deposition in some wellbores may cause a partial or total production loss depending on its severity. Several studies have attempted to model asphaltene deposition along the wellbore in which a fixed shape of deposited asphaltene profile is assumed over time. Having said though there exist field experiences which report evolutionary behavior of deposited asphaltene in terms of growth pattern and structure. In this study, a new model is proposed that considers the removal propensity of deposited asphaltene from the wall along with its deposition in another location of the same well. The structure of asphaltene deposits, their growth pattern and movement during production which is predicted in this model are consistent with the field data quantitatively. The proposed model also predicts that as production continues, the deposits in some locations of the well get thicker and the consequent increase in pressure drop lowers the location of bubble point which causes dissolution and removal of asphaltene in upper parts due to higher solubility of asphaltene and higher velocity of fluid in that region. Thus, the proposed model would more accurately simulate the wellbore deposition as compared with a field case-study. The finding of this study is hence a step forward for understanding of the behavior of asphaltene deposition in oil producing wells.
•Prediction of asphaltene blockage in vertical wellbores during oil production•Model includes evolutionary behaviour of deposition, removal and dissolution.•Location of asphaltene blockage would be shifted given local pressure and velocity.•Consistency of the theoretical results with the field data. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0167-7322 1873-3166 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111414 |