(75e) Modeling Asphaltene Deposition in Production Pipelines

Asphaltenes are heavy fractions that are dissolved in crude oil. The sudden change of either temperature, pressure, or composition affects the phase stability of crude oil and leads to the precipitation of asphaltenes. After precipitation occurs, asphaltenes begin to deposit on different locations along the flow of crude oil, including pipelines, well tubing, near wellbore region, and inside the formations. As deposits build up, they begin to cause a significant reduction in production rates. Risks associated with these asphaltenes related flow assurance problems need to be accurately quantified in order to develop appropriate mitigation strategies. In this study, a simple and robust model based on sound physics is developed and tested for field-like conditions by scaling-up the diameter and adjusting the flow rate. The model proved its ability to accurately predict the deposition rate.