A new approach to study deposition of heavy organic compounds in porous media

Abstract

A two-dimensional pore network model is presented to validate the deposition of heavy organic compounds (HOC) formed out of an oleic phase in a porous medium. The thickness of the deposition covering the pore surface and the associated pressure drop across each channel of the pore network as well as the overall pressure drop across the entire network model were simulated using the Wang-Civan deposition model. The results were then compared to the measured total pressure drop for each experimental run. Heptane and decane were the two types of precipitator (solvent) used in the experiments with carbon numbers of 7 and 10, respectively. Additionally, three crude oil/solvent volumetric ratios of 10:5, 10:6, and 10:7, as well as three different total flow rates of 4, 8, and 12ml/h were examined to investigate their impacts on the deposition of HOC. The deposition was evaluated through release and deposition coefficients for each experiment. Results indicated that as the solvent carbon number, crude oil/solvent ratio, and total flow rate of crude oil and solvent increases, the deposited layer and the corresponding total pressure drop decreases, the deposition continues until the complete blockage of the entire network because of deposition.