3 research outputs found
Effect of Resins on Asphaltene Deposition and the Changes of Surface Properties at Different Pressures: A Microstructure Study
Asphaltene deposition has hindered
oil production from asphaltenic
oil reservoirs through deposition in reservoir rock and surface facilities.
This paper investigates the effect of resin on asphaltene deposition
at different pressures. To investigate the asphaltene deposition in
the presence of resins at reservoir temperature and different pressures,
a pressure, volume, and temperature (PVT) visual cell was designed.
A high-resolution microscope and image processing software were used
to detect and determine the amount of deposited asphaltene as well
as its size distribution at different conditions. Two types of Iranian
crude oils with different potential of deposition (low and high) were
used in this work. In the first stage, the amount of asphaltene deposition
and the changes of surface properties were recognized through the
depressurizing process with and without the presence of resins in
the fluid. The wettability changes as a sign of surface properties
were studied by contact angle measurement, and also for further investigation,
the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was used. The results
verify that the amount of asphaltene deposition increases when the
pressure increases and the quantity of asphaltene deposition decreases
as the resin/asphaltene ratio in these samples increases. At high
ratios of resin/asphaltene, the asphaltene was found to be more stable.
However, the results showed that, as the pressure increases, the stability
of asphaltene decreases more than expected. The surface property changes
indicate that, in the presence of resins, the surfaces become more
water-wet and their roughness decreases
Effects of Native and Non-Native Resins on Asphaltene Deposition and the Change of Surface Topography at Different Pressures: An Experimental Investigation
Asphaltene
deposition during oil production and transportation
causes extensive damage to reservoirs and wellhead equipment. In this
study, the effects of native and non-native resins as well as those
of their mixtures on the asphaltene deposition process are investigated.
A novel pressure, volume, and temperature (PVT) visual cell is used
to check the effect of resin on asphaltene deposition at different
pressures and reservoir temperatures. Two Iranian crude oil samples
with different potentials of asphaltene deposition (low and high)
were used in these tests. During depressurizing in the presence of
native and non-native resins, the amount of asphaltene deposited was
measured. To monitor any changes in surface topography, the atomic
force microscopy (AFM) technique was used in this study. The results
show that the amount of asphaltene deposited decreases as the amount
of resin increases; however, less asphaltene is deposited when the
resin mixture is used than when the native resin is used. At high
ratios of resin to asphaltene, the stability of asphaltene is higher,
but as the pressure increases, the stability of the asphaltene decreases
more than expected. The surface property changes indicate that in
the presence of the resin mixture the surfaces are less affected