Prediction of asphaltene precipitation from n-alkane diluted crude oil by using PC-SAFT equation of state

The precipitation tendency of heavy organics such as asphaltene has posed great challenges for petroleum industry, and thus study of asphaltene precipitation amount and formation conditions seems to be necessary. One of the most common approaches for prediction of asphaltene precipitation is using thermodynamic models. In this study a PC-SAFT equation of state (EOS) is used to predict asphaltene precipitation in two Iranian dead oil samples. Asphaltene content is obtained by filtration method of the oil samples diluted with specific concentrations of different normal alkanes. Also liquid-liquid equilibrium is used for characterization of oil sample into one heavy phase (asphaltene) and another light phase (saturates, aromatics, and resin). Calculations show that the developed model is highly sensitive to interaction parameter between oil fractions. Prediction results were improved due to using Chueh-Prausnitz equation. The results indicate good potential of PC-SAFT EOS in the prediction of asphaltene precipitation in crude oil samples diluted with different normal alkanes. The model error is <5% and the model precision is increased by reducing the number of normal alkane carbons.     

Modeling of Asphaltene Phase Behavior with the SAFT Equation of State

Abstract

The SAFT equation of state was used to model asphaltene phase behavior in a model live oil and a recombined oil under reservoir conditions. The equation of state parameters for the asphaltenes were fit to precipitation data from oil titrations with n-alkanes at ambient conditions. The SAFT model was then used to predict the asphaltene stability boundaries in the live oils. A lumping scheme that divides the recombined oil into six pseudo-components based on composition, saturates–aromatics–resins–asphaltenes fractionation, and gas–oil-ratio data was introduced. Using this lumping scheme, SAFT predicted stock-tank oil and recombined oil densities that are in excellent agreement with experiment data. For both the model and the recombined oil systems, SAFT predicted asphaltene instability and bubble points agree well with experimental measurements.     

减压渣油微观相结构特性的分子模拟

选用4种模型化合物代表减压渣油四组分(SARA),采用分子动力学模拟了减压渣油微观相结构,发现不同结构分子间相互作用的差异是减压渣油微观非均匀分布的本质原因,并通过电子分布特性分析了不同结构分子间相互作用差异的本质原因。沥青质分子间强相互作用使得沥青质分子自缔合形成聚集体;而多个胶质分子与沥青质分子的强相互作用封闭了沥青质分子自身进一步发生相互作用的活性位;同时,与胶质分子、饱和烃分子具有强相互作用的芳香烃分子将沥青质 胶质分子形成的聚集体分散在由芳香烃 饱和烃分子构成的连续相内,其中芳香烃分子更靠近胶质分子。因此,增加沥青质、饱和烃分子的含量会促进沥青质聚集,降低减压渣油稳定性;增加胶质、芳香烃分子的含量会阻碍沥青质聚集,提高减压渣油稳定性。     

孤东油田稠油极性四组分测定方法及其乳化特性研究

稠油油藏高效、经济的开发一直是油田企业研究的技术难题之一,胜利孤东油田稠油油藏由于其胶质、沥青质含量均高于国内主要稠油平均值,有其特殊性,开采难度也更大.文章通过大量室内实验,确定了稠油极性四组分(饱和分、芳香分、胶质、沥青质)的测定方法和分离方法,并采用元素分析、红外光谱分析等手段深入研究了稠油极性四组分的乳化特性、乳化剂对四组分乳化特性的影响.研究结果表明,孤东稠油极性四组分乳状液稳定性次序为饱和分＜沥青质＜芳香分＜胶质＜原油,原油中胶质与沥青质分子通过氢键形成的缔合,对原油的黏度有重要影响.乳化剂OP对稠油极性四组分均具有强烈的乳化促进作用,使W/O型乳状液转变为O/W型,达到了乳化降黏效果.     

380#燃料油的四组分分析及其油水界面张力研究

采用氧化铝吸附色谱柱将380#燃料油分成饱和分、芳香分、胶质和沥青质四组分;用元素分析、凝胶色谱、红外光谱和核磁共振等技术对四组分进行分析和结构表征;测定了燃料油及其组分模拟油的油水界面张力,考察了水相pH值、盐浓度对燃料油及其组分模拟油油水界面张力的影响。结果表明,380#燃料油中芳香分含量最多,沥青质和胶质含量约30 %。沥青质比胶质含有更多的杂原子,相对分子质量更大。沥青质氢碳原子比n(H)/n(C)最小,芳香碳率fA最大。红外谱图表明,沥青质比胶质含有更多的羟基、氨基和羧基等官能团,故分子间氢键作用强烈。四组分油水界面张力大小顺序为：饱和分>芳香分>胶质>沥青质,沥青质界面活性最大。由于380#燃料油及其组分中酸性基团占优势,在强碱性条件下它们与水的界面张力大幅下降。水相盐浓度对380#燃料油及其组分的界面活性影响不大。     

Modeling of Coprecipitation of Resin and Asphaltene in Crude Oil by Association Equation of State

Abstract

Resin content is an effective parameter that has adverse effect on precipitation of asphaltene in crude oil. Fluctuations in temperature, pressure, or oil composition disturb the chemical equilibrium in a reservoir, which results in coprecipitation of resin and asphaltene. In this work, coprecipitation of resin and asphaltene has been modeled using an association equation of state (AEOS) in which asphaltene and resin are considered associate components of oil. According to association fluid theory, the total compressibility factor is assumed to be the sum of physical and chemical compressibility factors. Liquid–liquid and liquid–vapor equilibrium calculations are accomplished with the assumption that asphaltene and resin do not contribute in the vapor phase. Comparison of experimental asphaltene precipitation with that obtained from the model developed proves the acceptability of the proposed model.     

The Prediction of Asphaltene Precipitation from Crude-Oils

Abstract

Asphaltene precipitation is undesirable deposition that causes difficult problems in oil production and transportation. A molecular thermodynamic model is proposed for predicting the asphaltene precipitation under live oil conditions and at a wide range of pressures and different solvent ratios. In this model, it is assumed that the precipitation phenomenon is a reversible process, and an equation of state is employed for phase behavior prediction. The vapor and liquid equilibrium calculations are performed separately and sequentially. The characterization of unknown-heavy fraction of petroleum (C₇₊) is obtained by the generalized molar mass distribution model, in which C₇₊ is represented by four pseudocomponents. The two heaviest pseudocomponents of C₇₊ are identified as asphaltenic components, are also considered as precipitating components. The model is verified by its ability to prediction of asphaltene precipitation in different thermodynamic conditions. It has been shown that the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Intelligent Modeling of Asphaltene Precipitation in Live and Tank Crude Oil Systems

Abstract

The study of asphaltene precipitation properties has been motivated by their propensity to aggregate, flocculate, precipitate, and adsorb onto interfaces. The tendency of asphaltenes to precipitation has posed great challenges for the petroleum industry. The most important parameters in asphaltene precipitation modeling and prediction are the asphaltene and oil solvent solubility parameters, which are very sensitive to reservoir and operational conditions. The driving force of asphaltene flocculation is the difference between asphaltene and the oil solvent solubility parameter. Since the nature of asphaltene solubility is yet unknown and several unmodeled dynamics are hidden in the original systems, the existing prediction models may fail in prediction the asphaltene precipitation in crude oil systems. One of ways in modeling such systems is using intelligent techniques that need some information about the systems; so, based on some intelligent learning methods it can provide a suitable model. The authors introduce a new implementation of the artificial intelligent computing technology in petroleum engineering. They have proposed a new approach to prediction of the asphaltene precipitation in crude oil systems using fuzzy logic, neural networks, and genetic algorithms. Results of this research indicate that the proposed prediction model with recognizing the possible patterns between input and output variables can successfully predict and model asphaltene precipitation in tank and live crude oils with a good accuracy.     

The Structural Characterization of Saturate,Aromatic, Resin,and Asphaltene Fractions of Batiraman Crude Oil

Abstract

The structural characterization of fractions of Batiraman crude oil, which is the heavy crude oil from a field in the southeastern part of Turkey, was investigated. Batiraman crude oil and its saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) fractions were seperated. Treatment of crude oil with n-heptane provided the separation of asphaltene. Maltene was collected by evaporating the n-heptane from the filtrate. Then, maltene was separeted into saturates, aromatics, and resins by SARA technique. Maltene was separated into saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions using column chromatography. SARA fractions were quantified on a weight percent basis. Fractions of Batiraman crude oil were characterized by elemental analysis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques.     

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF ASPHALTENES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES

ABSTRACT

Asphaltenes and resins are two of the several, but important, heavy organics present in petroleum fluids. Asphaltenes are operationally defined as the non-colatile and polar fraction of petroleum that is insoluble in n-alkanes (i.e., n-pentane). Conversely resins are defined as the non-colatile and polar fraction of petroleum that is soluble in n-alkanes (i.e., n-pentane), and aromatic solvents (i.e., toluene), and insoluble in ethyl acetate. A commonly accepted view in the petroleum chemistry is that crude oil asphaltenes form micelles which are stabilized by adsorbed resins kept in solution by aromatics. Two key parameters that control the stability of asphaltene micelles in a crude oil are the ratio of aromatics to saturates and that of resins to asphaltenes. When these ratios decrease, asphaltene micelles will coalesce and form larger aggregates. The precipitation of asphaltene aggregates can cause problems such as reservoir plugging and wettability reversal.     

Effect of pressure of the onset of asphaltene precipitation during gas flooding

In order to prevent and eliminate the asphaltene precipitation during gas flooding, the rules of the changes of the pressure under different conditions are systematically studied by the laser solid detection system, the light transmission method, and the P–T phase diagram when the asphaltene precipitation occurs. When the pressure is reducing to a certain value, the penetrating light intensity of the crude oil is markedly decreased, which shows that the pressure at this point is the pressure of the onset of asphaltene precipitation (AOPP). The AOPP value decreases with an increase in the temperature. During gas flooding, the AOPP value increases with an increase in the content of gas in the crude oil, and these two nearly do have a linear relationship. According to the P–T phase behaviors of the gas–crude oil system, with an increase in the content of gas in the crude oil, the asphaltene precipitation envelope curve (APE) is gradually moved up, which shows that the possibility of asphaltene precipitation is much higher. During oil production, for the oil reservoirs with rich asphaltene, the production pressure drop should be kept a small value to ensure that the flowing bottom-hole pressure is higher than AOPP and it is necessary to help complement producing energy timely by using water injection, gas injection, etc. Besides, according to the intersection of T–P curve and APE curve in the P–T phase diagram, the location where the asphaltene precipitation occurs in the wellbore can be roughly predicted. The experimental results can provide the theoretical foundation for taking measures to prevent and eliminate the asphaltene precipitation.     

加拿大油砂沥青喷雾造粒溶剂体系的选择

以正戊烷+正己烷、正戊烷+环戊烷2个系列混合物作为溶剂,采用溶剂沉淀法从加拿大油砂沥青中得到沥青质,通过对沥青质SARA族组成、元素组成、平均分子结构、分子片层堆积结构的测定,考察了溶剂混合比例对所得沥青质性质的影响。结果表明,随着正己烷或环戊烷掺入比例的增加,沥青质的收率显著降低,软化点明显提高;正戊烷+环戊烷混合溶剂更适宜作为加拿大油砂沥青喷雾造粒的溶剂体系,正戊烷中加入少量的环戊烷就能达到沥青喷雾造粒的要求。在正戊烷中掺入体积分数10%的环戊烷,可将脱油沥青收率降低4百分点,软化点相应升高10~12℃,从而生产出外观形态良好的沥青粉,可以作为加拿大油砂沥青喷雾造粒的溶剂体系。     

胶质对沥青质稳定性的影响

为了进一步研究胶质与沥青质之间的相互作用对沥青质稳定性的影响,在分析表征沥青质和胶质的平均结构单元并计算溶解度参数的基础上,向沥青质模型油（沉积物计为AS沉积物）中分别加入胶质NBR和胶质VRR得到AS+NBR沉积物和AS+VRR沉积物,通过分析沉积物颗粒粒径分布,考察胶质对沥青质稳定性的影响程度。结果表明：沥青质的芳香性最强、溶解度参数最大（20.61 MPa1/2）,胶质VRR的芳香性和溶解度参数（17.80 MPa1/2）高于胶质NBR;在沥青质模型油中,随着胶质VRR浓度的增加,沉积物颗粒粒径减小,而胶质NBR的加入并不能使沉积物颗粒粒径变小,当其质量浓度达到1 000 mg/L时,沉积物颗粒粒径反而增加。3种沉积物的热重、凝胶渗透色谱（GPC）和X射线衍射（XRD）分析结果表明：胶质与沥青质之间存在缔合作用,使沉积物芳香片层厚度和直径减小、层间距增大,芳香片层数减小;3种沉积物的相对分子质量从大到小的顺序为AS沉积物＞AS+NBR沉积物＞AS+VRR沉积物。因此芳香性强、溶解度参数接近沥青质的胶质VRR能更好地分散稳定沥青质,使得沉积物颗粒粒径变小、石墨化程度减弱,从而不易沉积和结焦。     

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF ASPHALTENES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES

Asphaltenes and resins are two of the several, but important, heavy organics present in petroleum fluids. Asphaltenes are operationally defined as the non-colatile and polar fraction of petroleum that is insoluble in n-alkanes (i.e., n-pentane). Conversely resins are defined as the non-colatile and polar fraction of petroleum that is soluble in n-alkanes (i.e., n-pentane), and aromatic solvents (i.e., toluene), and insoluble in ethyl acetate. A commonly accepted view in the petroleum chemistry is that crude oil asphaltenes form micelles which are stabilized by adsorbed resins kept in solution by aromatics. Two key parameters that control the stability of asphaltene micelles in a crude oil are the ratio of aromatics to saturates and that of resins to asphaltenes. When these ratios decrease, asphaltene micelles will coalesce and form larger aggregates. The precipitation of asphaltene aggregates can cause problems such as reservoir plugging and wettability reversal.     

Determination of asphaltene precipitation using a CPA equation of state

Asphaltene precipitation during natural depletion and miscible gas injection is a common problem in oilfields throughout the world. Therefore, predicting asphaltene phase behavior through thermodynamic modeling may help to control its precipitation and reduce the associated problems. In this work, a new modified CPA equation of state (EoS) was used to model asphaltene precipitation. This equation is based on a combination of a new physical part and the Wertheim association term.

The results of the new model were compared with the experimental data of five oil samples. The results showed that this modified CPA EoS can predict asphaltene precipitation with good accuracy.     

Determination of asphaltene precipitation using a new CPA-based equation of state

Asphaltene precipitation during natural depletion and miscible gas injection is a common problem in oilfields throughout the world. Therefore, predicting asphaltene phase behavior through thermodynamic modeling may help to control its precipitation and reduce the associated problems. In this work, a new modified cubic-plus-association (CPA) equation of state (EoS) was used to model asphaltene precipitation. This equation is based on a combination of a new physical part and an association term.

The new physical part has an evolved cubic equation of state with a new attractive term in this work. The results of the new modification of CPA EoS were compared with the experimental data of two oil samples (oil samples 1 and 2) that belonged to Moradi et al. The results showed that this modified CPA EoS can predict asphaltene precipitation with good accuracy.     

Investigation of Asphaltene Precipitation Process for Kuwaiti Reservoir

Abstract

As part of an Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) research program, Asphalting precipitation processes were investigated for a Kuwaiti dead oil sample using different hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide as precipitants at the ambient and high pressure of 3000 psig conditions. The hydrocarbons used as precipitants were ethane (C2), propane (C3), butane (C4), normal pentane (n-C5), normal hexane (n-C6), and normal heptane (n-C7). The equipment used for this investigation was a mercury-free, variable volume, fully visual JEFRI-DBR PVT system with laser light scattering. The minimum critical value of precipitants concentration for the oil sample has been identified at the ambient and high-pressure conditions for each precipitant. Our investigation has revealed that for this oil sample the most powerful asphaltene precipitant were CO₂ followed by C2, C3, C4, n-C5, n-C6, and n-C7. Moreover, the effect of pressure and temperature on the asphaltene precipitation has been investigated experimentally for CO₂, n-C5, n-C6, and n-C7. The precipitation and redissolution of asphaltene upon the addition and removal of CO₂ and light alkanes (C2–C4), at 3000 psig and ambient temperatures, have shown evidence of reversibility of asphaltene precipitation. A comprehensive fluid characterization analysis for the oil sample has been performed including, physical properties of crude oil, compositional, molecular weight (Mw), and SARA analyses. Advanced analytical techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR and IR spectrometers have been utilized to investigate the molecular structure of the asphaltene for this sample. It was concluded that the asphaltene molecules for this oil contain 120 total aromatic carbons with 42 aromatic rings, 114 naphthenic rings, and 5–7 sets of condensed aromatic rings.     

常压渣油热反应过程中胶体的稳定性

利用质量分数电导率方法研究了中东和克拉玛依常压渣油在热反应过程中胶体的稳定性。结果表明，随着反应时间的增长，在热反应生焦诱导期内，渣油的胶体稳定性迅速下降；开始生焦后，胶体稳定性缓慢下降。从中东常压渣油的SARA四组分的数均相对分子质量、碳氢元素组成、平均芳碳率等方面探讨了中东常压渣油在热反应过程中胶体稳定性下降的原因。结果表明，在热反应中，由于裂解和缩聚反应的共同作用，使渣油的沥青质和饱和分含量上升，芳香分含量下降，胶质含量变化不大；随着热反应的进行，四组分的数均相对分子质量均呈下降趋势，导致了渣油胶体稳定性的下降并发生生焦反应。     

A Thermodynamic Model for the Prediction of Asphaltene Precipitation

Abstract

Asphaltene precipitation in reservoirs, wells, and facilities can have a severe and detrimental impact on the oil production. Due to the extreme chemical complexity of the asphaltene and crude oil and the lack of comprehensive experimental data, the modeling of asphaltene precipitation in crude oil remains as a challenging task. In this article, a compositional thermodynamic model was developed to predict asphaltene precipitation conditions. The proposed model is based on a cubic equation of state with an additional term to describe the association of asphaltene molecules. Extensive testing against the literature data, including asphaltene precipitation from crude oil and solvent injection systems, concludes that the proposed model provides reasonable predictive results.