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Permeability Impairment Study Due to Asphaltene Deposition: Experimental and Modeling Approach

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Abstract

This fact is well known that during any scenario of production, asphaltene deposition in porous media has a substantial effect on oil flow. But a clear understanding of asphaltene deposition mechanisms can help to minimize asphaltenic problem in oil-bearing formations. In this study, the experimental results of three dynamic CO2 miscible injection tests were investigated. Regarding the effects of adsorption, mechanical entrapment, and sweeping mechanisms on permeability behavior, a mathematical mass and permeability variation model were developed. According to the experimental results asphaltene deposition causes a 70% loss of sand stone initial permeability while the loss is significantly low in carbonate cores, about 30%. The model validation shows that the main particulate processes of Asphaltene deposition in sandstone cores are the cake forming and adsorption while in the case of carbonate cores, are the gradual pore blocking and pore sweeping. Obtained results from mass model provide that entrainment and deposition coefficients in square mass model lead to a more flexible trend than the linear variation of general model.

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Abbreviations

A:

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

A f :

Flow area, m2

A r :

Rock area, m2

B :

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

C :

Fitting parameter of mechanical entrapment, dimensionless

C 0 :

Fitting parameter of adsorption, dimensionless

C dep :

Deposition constant, dimensionless

C ent :

Entrainment coefficient, dimensionless

(Cte)gm :

General mass model constant, dimensionless

(Cte)sqm :

Square mass model constant, 1/m

d e :

Equivalent diameter, m

D :

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

E :

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

f c :

Capture coefficient, m3/s

f r :

Release coefficient, dimensionless

F :

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

F(PVI):

Polynomial function versus injected pore volume

g(PVI):

Negative terms polynomial function

G :

Fitting parameter, dimensionless

h(PVI):

Positive terms polynomial function

L :

Core length, m

M :

Mass of deposited particle, gr/gr

K :

Permeability, m2

K i :

Initial permeability, m2

K i,fp :

Permeability at the start of flow period, m2

Q :

Flow rate, m3/s

t D :

Dimensionless time

x D :

Dimensionless length

μ :

Viscosity, Pa s

λ :

Adsorption model parameter, dimensionless

ρ :

Density of deposited asphaltene, kg/m3

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shahid Bahonar University, 1949933114, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Hamed Bolouri

  2. Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Eshragh Ghoodjani

Authors
  1. Seyed Hamed Bolouri
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  2. Eshragh Ghoodjani
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Correspondence to Seyed Hamed Bolouri.

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Bolouri, S.H., Ghoodjani, E. Permeability Impairment Study Due to Asphaltene Deposition: Experimental and Modeling Approach. Transp Porous Med 91, 999–1012 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-011-9887-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-011-9887-6

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