Effect of Fluid Viscosity on Asphalthene Deposition Rate during Turbulent Flow in Oil Wells

Abstract

The production and transportation of petroleum fluids will be severely affected by the deposition of suspended particles (i.e. asphaltenes, diamondoids, paraffin/wax, sand, etc.) in petroleum fluid production wells and/or transfer pipelines. Viscosity variations of petroleum fluid are an important phenomenon that could have significant effect on different properties related to petroleum fluid. Therefore, it is important to understand the effect of viscosity variations of petroleum fluid onthe deposition rate of suspended particles on the walls of the flowing channel. In this study, the analytical model for the prefouling behavior of suspended particles in production lines ischallenged in terms of viscosity changes that occur during the production in oil wells/tubings fora typical fluid sample experiencing particle deposition. Calculations of particle deposition rate inoil wells/tubings considering the change in viscosity for this typical oil sample is taken into consideration. The analysis presented in this report shows that rates of particle deposition (during petroleum fluid production) on the walls of the oil well/tubing is slightly effected by the viscosity variations that occur during the production conditions and it is also shown that the assumption of constant viscosity while deriving the analytical model for the deposition rate of particles on the walls of fluid conduits is quite a reasonable and valid assumption.