Application of Ultrasound Wave for Stimulation of Asphaltene Damaged Reservoir Rocks: An Experimental Study

Abstract

In this study, application of ultrasound wave for permeability enhancement of reservoir rocks was experimentally examined. In this regards, a specific core holder apparatus was designed with the ability of in-situ exposure of ultrasound to the plug at high-pressure condition, which is a better representative of ultrasound application in real wellbores. The effect of ultrasound power and exposure time as well as probe-plug distance on permeability stimulation was evaluated. The results showed that ultrasound could stimulate the permeability of asphaltene-damaged rocks, in which its efficiency is significant in sandstone rock. Analysis of asphaltene content in the output fluid showed that, as the result of ultrasound exposure, 84% of deposited asphaltenes in the sandstone plug was removed, which is corresponding to 67% of permeability recovery. It was also found that the stimulated permeability increases with increasing exposure time and power while decreases with increasing probe-plug distance, however an optimum value for exposure time and power, after which the permeability recovery is not significantly enhanced, was observed. Analysis of experiments also showed that probe-plug distance has the most prominent effect on recovery of damaged permeability in comparison to ultrasound time and power.