The effect of asphaltene particle size and distribution on the temporal advancement of the asphaltene deposition profile in the well column

Abstract

Asphaltene deposition in oil wells is an inconvenient production problem. Generating a precise deposition model for the well column is essential for optimal well design and prevention/reduction of deposition-associated difficulties. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of various parameters on the deposition process. These parameters include oil viscosity, temperature, flow velocity, well diameter and asphaltene particle size and particle size distribution. The first five parameters are analyzed using Escobedo and Mansoori (2010), Cleaver and Yates (1975) and Friedlander and Johnstone (1957) asphaltene deposition models. The last parameter (asphaltene particle size distribution) is not directly included in the asphaltene deposition models. Therefore, a dynamic well column model is generated by combining transport phenomena (mass, heat and momentum transfer) equations with thermodynamic models. The model is fine-tuned and verified based on field data from an Iranian producing oil well with frequent asphaltene deposition problem and subsequently used for predicting the time-dependent development of the asphaltene deposition profile in the well column for a series of asphaltene particle size distributions. The results show the effect of the said parameters depends on how the buffer layer and Brownian motion are defined. The Escobedo and Mansoori (2010) model is found to make better predictions of deposited asphaltene in the studied well.