Experimental and Modeling Study of Asphaltene Behavior in Porous Media

Vahid Hematfar
Supervisors: Dr. Zhangxing John Chen, Dr. Brij Maini
21

 Abstract

The effects of asphaltene adsorption on wettability, relative permeability, end-point values, water flooding performance and recovery are investigated by the dynamic experiments inducing asphaltene deposition and adsorption with monitoring. COBS interactions through focusing on the effects of brine properties on adsorption process in porous media are investigated, and the effects of asphaltene content on adsorption process and wettability change in porous media are evaluated.

It is concluded that two phase flow behaviour, displacement performance, relative permeability and oil recovery are affected by asphaltene adsorption; brine salinity and asphaltene concentration affect the adsorption of asphaltene on sand surfaces; relative permeability curves depict the influence of asphaltene adsorption on two phase flow, end-point saturation and recovery; a relation can be established for IFT and contact angle at different asphaltene concentrations and constant brine salinity; solubility parameter derived from PR-EOS indicates the asphaltene stability in crude oil and is used in thermodynamic model for prediction of asphaltene precipitation; determining the distribution of different fractions of asphaltene content is beneficial in determining the role and severity of related mechanisms as well as their location and variations with time.