Predicting Asphaltene Precipitation in Oilfields via the Technology of Compositional Reservoir Simulation

Abstract

Abstract Asphaltene precipitation is a sophisticated issue in the upstream oil industry, worldwide, and has detrimental effects on a variety of production processes in oilfields; it damages the properties of the reservoir and causes an unfavorable and significant decrease in oil production. It is very desirable for oil companies to investigate/predict the precipitation behavior of asphaltene in their subsurface reservoirs before it occurs. This allows them to optimize field development plans and review remedial solutions, in advance. To achieve this objective, complex compositional reservoir simulation technology was studied and utilized which is capable of simulating/predicting the dynamic aspects of this unwanted phenomenon. Compositional reservoir simulation technology along with advanced phase behavior and fluid characterization, offer reservoir engineers, the best means to study the issue of asphaltene precipitation, throughout the life of reservoirs. Multiphase flash calculation procedures empower users to predict the onset point and help monitor the amount of precipitation in reservoirs as a function of time, pressure, and composition of the reservoir fluid under investigation. The detrimental effects of the issue on important reservoir properties such as reduction of porosity and permeability; and alteration of wettability can be predicted, as well. A number of complex reservoir simulation cases representing various oilfield-production scenarios were carried out to study the issue of asphaltene precipitation. Results indicate that asphaltene precipitation severely damages the productivity of wells and reduces oil production. A key conclusion of achievements is the capability to predict the detrimental effects of asphaltene precipitation in oilfields without the need for data generation from expensive downhole samples. This research presents a leading-edge technology that can be utilized by oil companies to help with the design of more accurate and reliable primary/secondary/tertiary processes (i.e. EOR) such that asphaltene precipitation in subsurface reservoirs could be predicted and avoided beforehand, in order to help resolve the challenges the E&P industry is facing in this area.