Effects of Native and Non-Native Resins on Asphaltene
Deposition and the Change of Surface Topography at Different Pressures:
An Experimental Investigation
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Abstract
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