Conclusions

As summarized in Figure 9.12, the three on-column filtration asphaltene charac- terization techniques can be successfully used to provide useful information about asphaltene behavior during regular production operations, as well as in the selection and design of treatments and recovery processes. Specifically

• It was found that the on-column filtration technique can be effectively and rapidly used for determining the asphaltene content of crude oil samples from upstream operations.

• The asphaltene solubility profile method can be effectively used to measure the stability of extra heavy oil crude oil/naphtha blends and crude oils dur-

ing CO2 flooding, and to screen additives to improve asphaltene solubility.

• Also, the asphaltene solubility fraction method is particularly useful to monitor changes in asphaltene distributions after steam injection processes. • Finally, using the solubility profile, it was found that deposits from the pro- duction operation are preferentially enriched in low-solubility asphaltenes.

Determination of asphaltenes by on-column

filtration

Measuring asphaltene content at trace level, faster and/or high

precision Characterization of the asphaltenes by solubility fractions Asphaltene solubility profile method

Asphaltene stability and aggregation for monitoring solid precipitation and transportation Determine the effect of in situ recovery processes on asphaltene

characteristics

175

On-Column Filtration Asphaltene Characterization ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We thank Chevron Energy Technology Company, in particular the Measurement and Chemistry Focus Area, for providing funding and permission to publish this paper. REFERENCES

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