TY - JOUR

T1 - Prediction of the asphaltene deposition profile along a wellbore during natural production from a reservoir

AU - Kor, Peyman

AU - Kharrat, Riyaz

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2016/10/3

Y1 - 2016/10/3

N2 - The potential problem of asphaltene deposition during oil production has motivated both academics and industries to predict the asphaltene deposit profile in wellbores and pipelines. In this work, asphaltene deposition profile along an oil field well with the severe problem of asphaltene deposition was predicted. To do this, a comprehensive simulator for modeling of flow parameters such as pressure, temperature, and composition for a multiphase flow of oil, gas, and asphaltene from the reservoir to the surface was developed and coupled with the deposition model. By applying the simulator to an oil field well, it has been found that 60–70% of the total asphaltene thickness formed after 1 month of production, indicating that the problem of asphaltene deposition is bound to the initial stage of wellbore life. Moreover, the simulator was able to predict the accumulated asphaltene thickness and the time of wellbore plugging properly. This prediction is highly crucial if it is aimed to control the well performance and to optimize the productivity.

AB - The potential problem of asphaltene deposition during oil production has motivated both academics and industries to predict the asphaltene deposit profile in wellbores and pipelines. In this work, asphaltene deposition profile along an oil field well with the severe problem of asphaltene deposition was predicted. To do this, a comprehensive simulator for modeling of flow parameters such as pressure, temperature, and composition for a multiphase flow of oil, gas, and asphaltene from the reservoir to the surface was developed and coupled with the deposition model. By applying the simulator to an oil field well, it has been found that 60–70% of the total asphaltene thickness formed after 1 month of production, indicating that the problem of asphaltene deposition is bound to the initial stage of wellbore life. Moreover, the simulator was able to predict the accumulated asphaltene thickness and the time of wellbore plugging properly. This prediction is highly crucial if it is aimed to control the well performance and to optimize the productivity.

KW - Asphaltene

KW - deposition

KW - flow assurance

KW - precipitation

KW - wellbore

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989353483&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/15567036.2015.1115923

DO - 10.1080/15567036.2015.1115923

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84989353483

VL - 38.2016

SP - 2837

EP - 2844

JO - Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects

JF - Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects

SN - 1556-7036

IS - 19

ER -