Asphaltene Solvency Ranking Method for Chemical Agent Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for selecting chemical agents to inhibit or remove asphaltene deposits in oil production and processing rely on anecdotal evidence and subjective laboratory tests, lacking a systematic and efficient approach.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of solvating agents and solvents to determine the stability of asphaltene dispersions by calculating solvency and asphaltene factors, which helps in identifying effective solvating agents for asphaltene inhibition and remediation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical treatment with additives is used for asphaltene deposit remediation, then the effectiveness of deposit removal is improved, but the time and cost for product selection and testing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary solvency testing and characterization of asphaltenes before actual remediation operations. By pre-determining the solvency factors and asphaltene factors through laboratory tests, the method identifies the most effective chemical agents in advance, avoiding time-consuming trial-and-error testing during actual production remediation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of asphaltene dispersion stability by adding solvating agents and measuring the effects on flocculation. By systematically varying chemical agent concentrations and types, and measuring corresponding changes in asphaltene stability parameters, the method identifies optimal treatment conditions before field application, reducing both time and cost of product selection.
2Reliability
If chemical treatment with additives is used for asphaltene deposit remediation, then the effectiveness of deposit removal is improved, but the cost of treatment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary solvency testing and characterization of asphaltenes before actual remediation operations. By pre-determining the solvency factors and asphaltene factors through laboratory tests, the method identifies the most effective chemical agents in advance, avoiding costly trial-and-error testing during actual production remediation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of asphaltene dispersion stability by adding solvating agents and measuring the effects on flocculation. By systematically varying chemical agent concentrations and types, and measuring corresponding changes in asphaltene stability parameters, the method identifies optimal treatment conditions before field application, reducing both time and cost of product selection.
3Reliability
If physical force is used to move asphaltene deposits, then the deposits can be removed, but production loss and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical methods with chemical methods for asphaltene deposit removal. Instead of using physical force to move deposits, the method uses solvating agents that chemically interact with asphaltenes to dissolve and disperse deposits, allowing removal without mechanical intervention that would cause production shutdown or operational disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical solvating agents as intermediaries between the asphaltene deposits and the production system. These chemical agents mediate the removal process by dissolving and dispersing asphaltenes, enabling gentle removal that does not require physical force or operational disruption, unlike mechanical cleaning methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a faster and more efficient way to rank solvating agents, improving the selection of chemical agents for asphaltene inhibition and remediation, thereby reducing production losses and operational issues.
Implementation Method 1
Maltenes constitute the fraction of oil that is soluble in low molecular mass n-alkane solvents, such as n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-heptane. Asphaltenes are defined as the crude oil fraction that is soluble in aromatic solvents and insoluble in low-boiling straight chain alkanes.
Implementation Method 2
Asphaltene molecules have complex structures and are typically polar molecules with relatively high molecular weights
Implementation Method 3
Asphaltenes are typically stable under original reservoir conditions, but can be destabilized and precipitate from crude oil during production due to changes in temperature, pressure, chemical composition, and shear rate.
Implementation Method 4
Asphaltene deposits can occur throughout the production system, from inside the reservoir formation to pumps, tubing, wellheads, safety valves, flow lines, and surface facilities used in the extraction process.
Implementation Method 5
Chemical methods are relatively less time and cost prohibitive, and typically involve a solvent soak coupled with the addition of an active component to mobilize and solubilize, thereby allowing removal of the deposit.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for estimating the solvency potential for various chemical additives used for asphaltene deposit remediation or inhibition have been developed. These methods can be used for remediating or inhibiting asphaltene deposition in various applications including upstream production (e.g., near-wellbore, downhole, flow-lines, separators), midstream processes (e.g., pipe lines, transport, and storage), and downstream (e.g., hydrocarbon refining).