SPE 64991

Productivity Decline of Vertical and Horizontal Wells by Asphaltene Deposition in

Petroleum Reservoirs
Shaojun Wang, SPE, and Faruk Civan, SPE, The University of Oklahoma

Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

dimensional, three-phase black-oil simulator. Two typical
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2001 SPE International Symposium on cases are evaluated with the simulator and representative
Oilfield Chemistry held in Houston, Texas, 13–16 February 2001.
results are reported.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to Asphaltene Precipitation Model
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at The polymer solution theory represents the existence state of
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of asphaltene in crude oil more accurately than the colloidal
Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is theory [1]. Hirschberg et al. [11] first applied the polymer
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous solution theory to simulate the asphaltene precipitation
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O.
Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
problem. By combining the Flory-Huggins theory for polymer
solution and Hildebrand solubility concept, Hirschberg et al.
[11] obtained the following equation:
Abstract
V V 2
Asphaltene precipitation and deposition models were φ A = exp  A − 1 − A (δ A − δ L )  (1)
established and verified by typical experimental data. These V
 L RT 
models, the porosity and permeability reduction models, and where, φ A is the volume fraction of asphaltene dissolved in
the asphaltene mass balance equation were incorporated into a
three-dimensional, three-phase black-oil simulator. Two the crude oil. V A is the molar volume of asphaltene, assumed
typical cases involving asphaltene deposition in petroleum constant. V L is the molar volume of liquid phase, calculated
reservoirs associated with vertical and horizontal wells were with the modified Benedict-Webb-Rubin state equation in the
investigated using the simulator. During the three-year period Hirschberg et al. model. R is the universal gas constant and
of production, the productivity index declined more than 50 % T is the absolute temperature. δ A is the solubility parameter
for both the vertical and horizontal wells. The pattern of
of asphaltene, given as :
asphaltene deposition in the reservoir with a horizontal well
was found to be different from that in the reservoir with a
δ A = 20.04 * (1 − hT ) (2)
vertical well.

Introduction where h is a specific constant for each oil and δ L is the

The existence state of asphaltene in crude oil is different than solubility parameter of the liquid phase defined by [49]:
in solvent [1]. The crude oil containing asphaltene is a real 1
 ∆U vaporization  2
solution, but asphaltene forms aggregation in solvent [1]. The δ L =  
 (3)
process of asphaltene precipitation in hydrocarbon miscible  VL 
flooding is also different from that due to pressure depletion where ∆U vaporization is the internal energy change during the
during primary oil recovery [1]. The detailed review of the
existence state of asphaltene in crude oil, and the precipitation vaporization of a unit mole liquid.
and deposition of asphaltene in petroleum reservoirs is given The asphaltene precipitation process can be represented by
in Table 1-7 by Wang [1]. a vapor-liquid and a liquid-liquid equilibrium. In the vapor-
In this paper, an asphaltene precipitation model is liquid equilibrium, the composition of liquid is calculated and
developed and verified by a typical experimental data. Then, a the asphaltene solubility is calculated with Eq.(1) in the liquid-
porous media deposition model for asphaltene is established liquid equilibrium. It is assumed that the liquid-liquid
and applied to six sets of experimental data. Finally, the equilibrium does not effect the vapor-liquid equilibrium. In the
precipitation and deposition models for asphaltene as well as liquid-liquid equilibrium, the asphaltene precipitate is treated
other auxiliary models are incorporated into a three- as a solute-rich phase and the oil is treated as a solvent-rich
phase [11]. Hirschberg et al. [11] applied Eq.(1) to simulate
2 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN
the asphaltene precipitation when the crude oil was mixed
with solvent. Burke et al. [19] applied Eq.(1) to investigated
the effect of solvent content on the asphaltene precipitation
and Boer et al. [28] applied Eq.(1) to screen the crude oil with
asphaltene precipitation problem.
The above precipitation model is applied to simulate the
experimental data of asphaltene precipitation reported by
Burke et al. [19]. The composition of the oil is given in Table
8. The oil contains 16.08% (weight) asphaltene at stock tank
condition and has a bubble point of 2,950 psia. The reservoir
temperature is 212 D F . The experimental data of asphaltene
precipitation is reported in Fig. 1.
Hirschberg et al. used the Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK)
equation of state to calculate the vapor-liquid equilibrium.
However, compared to the Peng-Robinson equation, SRK
generated a big error in the calculation of vapor and liquid
compositions [1]. Therefore, the Peng-Robinson equation was
used to calculate the vapor-liquid equilibrium in this study.
The shift parameter concept is applied to improve the
calculated molar volume of liquid [48]. First the critical
properties and acentric parameter of C 7 + are defined by
matching the bubble point. Then, the vapor-liquid equilibrium
is calculated with the Peng-Robinson equation, and the molar
volume of liquid phase is calculated with the modified Peng-
Robinson equation [48]. The solubility parameter of
asphaltene is obtained using Eq.(2) and solubility parameter of
liquid phase is calculated with Eq.(3). Finally, the asphaltene
solubility is calculated with Eq.(1). In this process, the molar
volume of asphaltene, the shift parameter of C 7 + , and h in the
Eq.(2) are adjusted to match the experimental data.
Regardless of how the three parameters are adjusted to
match the Burke et al.[19] experimental data, the maximum
asphaltene precipitate always occurs at the pressure of 2950
psia rather than 2014.7, indicated by the experimental data. It
is believed that either the precipitation experimental data or
the bubble point has an error. Burke et al. [19] also noticed
this error, but did not offer an explanation. The experimental
data given in Fig. 1 indicate that the asphaltene precipitate
slowly increases with the decrease in pressure when the
pressure is above the 2014.7 psia, reaches a maximum value at
2014.7 psia, and decreases rapidly with further decrease in
pressure when the pressure is below 2014.7 psia. This
tendency is consistent with the previous observations [11, 39].
Therefore, it is believed that the reported bubble point value is
incorrect. After the bubble point is adjusted to 2050 psia, the
Burke et al. experimental data for asphaltene precipitation
could be perfectly matched with the above model, Eq. (1). The
simulated results are presented in Fig.1 and the parameters
used to match the experimental data are reported in Table 8.
Fig.1 demonstrates that the above precipitation model can
adequately simulate the asphaltene precipitation process due to
pressure depletion. The defined molar value of asphaltene by
matching the experimental data is 1.02 m 3 / kmol . This value
is very close to the value defined by Nghiem and Coombe
[30]. The shift parameter of C 7 + is reported in Table 8. h is
SPE 64991
0.0012815 1/ D C , which is close to the value given by
Hirschberg et al. [11].
Asphaltene Deposition Model for Core Tests
Because the dead-oil was used in all core tests for asphaltene
deposition, a single-phase system is assumed. A horizontal
flow is considered, and the gravity effect is neglected. The
asphaltene precipitation and deposition problems are
represented by mass balance models for the liquid and
asphaltene, the momentum balance equation, the asphaltene
precipitation and deposition models, and the porosity and
permeability reduction models.
The mass balance equation for the liquid phase is given by
[1]:
∂
(φρ L wOL ) + ∂ (ρ L u L wOL ) = 0
(4)
∂t ∂x
where O represents the oil component and L represents the
liquid phase. φ represents the porosity of the porous media.
ρ L is the density of liquid phase. u L is the flux of the liquid
phase. wOL represents the mass fraction of the oil in the liquid
phase.
The mass balance for asphaltene is given by[1]:
∂
(φC A ρ A + φρ L w AL ) + ∂ (ρ L u L wSAL + ρ L u L w AL ) =
∂t ∂x
(5)
∂E A
− ρA
∂t
where subscript A represents the asphaltene. C A is the
volume fraction of the suspended asphaltene precipitates in the
liquid phase; ρ A is the density of asphaltene; wSAL and w AL
represent the mass fractions of the suspended asphaltene
precipitates and the dissolved asphaltene in the liquid phase,
respectively; and E A is the volume fraction of the deposited
asphaltene in the bulk volume of the porous media.
The momentum balance equation is given by Darcy’s law:
k ∂P
uL = − (6)
µ L ∂x
where k is the absolute permeability of the porous media, µ L
is the viscosity of the liquid. P represents the pressure of the
liquid phase.
The deposition rate for asphaltene is given by [1]:
∂E A
= αC Aφ − βE A (v L − vcr , L ) + γu L C A (7)
∂t
where the first term represents the surface deposition. The
second term represents the entrainment of asphaltene deposits
by the flowing phase when the interstitial velocity is larger
than a critical interstitial velocity. This term shows that the
entrainment rate of the asphaltene deposits is directly
proportional to the amount of asphaltene deposits present in
porous media, and the difference between the actual interstitial
velocity and the critical interstitial velocity necessary for
asphaltene deposit mobilization. The last term represents the
pore throat plugging rate, which is directly proportional to the
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 3
product of the superficial velocity, u L , and the concentration
of the asphaltene, C A , that is the asphaltene precipitate
concentration in the liquid phase. α is the surface deposition
rate coefficient, β is the entrainment rate coefficient, and γ is
the plugging deposition rate coefficient. The value of β is set
as:
β = β i , when v L > vcr , L (8)
β = 0 , otherwise (9)
where β i is the instantaneous entrainment rate coefficient. v L
is the interstitial velocity of liquid phase equal to u L / φ ; and
v cr , L is the critical interstitial velocity of liquid phase, which
is considered to be constant. The value of γ is described as:
γ = γ i (1 + σE A ) , when D pt ≤ D ptcr (10)
γ = 0 , otherwise (11)
where γ i is the instantaneous plugging deposition rate
coefficient, and σ is the snowball-effect deposition constant.
Thus, the pore throat plugging deposition rate increases
proportionally with the total deposits. D pt is the average pore
throat diameter; and D ptcr is the critical pore throat diameter,
assumed constant. When D pt is less than D ptcr , pore throat
plugging deposition will occur.
The instantaneous, local porosity, φ , during asphaltene
deposition is equal to the difference between the initial
porosity, φ 0 , and the fractional pore volume occupied by the
asphaltene deposits, E A [42]:
φ = φ0 − EA (12)
The instantaneous, local permeability, k , is calculated by
[1]:
φ 
3 ∂t
k = f p k 0   (13)
 φ0 
where f p is a coefficient for permeability modification by the
valve or gate effect [51], and k 0 is the initial permeability.
The asphaltene precipitate is calculated by the
precipitation model described in previous section.
The above models are coupled and solved by discretizing
by finite-difference, backward both in time and space. Hence,
a fully implicit numerical model is established and solved by
iteration. The program was evaluated with respect to the
sensitivity of the simulated results to time and space steps. The
simulated data were not appreciably sensitive to time and
space steps.
The model described here was applied to six sets of core
test data involving asphaltene deposition [50]. Two types of
oil were used in these experiments: the Weyburn (contain
5.3% asphaltene) and Hassi-Messaoud (contain 0.15%
asphaltene) crude oils [50]. Four different natural sandstones
were used: the Fontainebleau, Vosges, and Palatinat
sandstones, and a HMD reservoir rock. The permeabilities of
the sandstones varied from 0.67 to 107 md. The porosities of
the sandstones ranged from 7.1% to 24.7%. The core samples
were 5 to 7 cm in length and 2.3 cm in diameter. The test
temperatures were 50 and 80 °C, and a backpressure of 145
psia was applied [50]. Because the compositions of the two
oils were not reported, the compositions of two dead oils
reported by Hrischberg et al [11] were used to approximate the
compositions of the Weyburn and Hassi-Messaoud crude oils.
The shift parameter, acentric factor, and critical properties of
C 7 + were adjusted to match the asphaltene contents of the
Weyburn and Hassi-Messaoud oils. Then, the model described
in the previous sections was used to simulate the deposition
data of experiment GF1, GF3, GV5, GV10, GP9 and HMD26
[50]. The related data and obtained parameter values are listed
in Table 10. The simulated results are shown in Fig.2-7. In all
six cases, the simulated results matched the experimental data
accurately. Based on the value of the parameters obtained by
history matching, the surface deposition occurred in all six
experiments. The pore throat plugging deposition occurred
only in experiments GF1 and HMD26, and the entrainment of
deposits occurred in the remaining four experiments. Based on
these results, it can be concluded that the surface deposition is
a predominant mechanism of asphaltene deposition.
Asphaltene Deposition Model For Petroleum
Reservoirs
The three dimensional mass balance for asphaltene can be
expressed as [1]:
∂
(φS L C A ρ A + φS L ρ L w AL ) + ∂ (ρ L u L w SAL + ρ L u L w AL ) +
∂t ∂x
∂ ∂
(ρ L u L wSAL + ρ L u L w Al ) + (ρ L u L w SAL + ρ L u l w AL ) =
∂y ∂z
∂E A
− ρA
(14)
This mass balance equation, the asphaltene precipitation
model, the asphaltene deposition model, the porosity and
permeability reduction models are incorporated into a three-
dimensional, three-phase black-oil simulator [1]. Because
these equations are highly coupled, an inside iteration is
applied to solve the mass balance, asphaltene precipitation and
deposition, the porosity and permeability reduction models
simultaneously.
The simulator was used to simulate the asphaltene
deposition in a reservoir of 2100 ft long, 2100 ft wide, and 50
ft thick, and located at a depth of 4000 ft [1]. The reservoir
was horizontal, homogeneous, and isotropic. The permeability
was 25 md and the porosity was 0.25. The reservoir was
undersaturated with an initial pressure of 5261 psia,
D
temperature of 212 F and bubble point of 2050 psia. The
crude oil of the reservoir had a gravity of 19 API at stock tank
condition. The oil contained 16.08% (weight) asphaltene [19].
The asphaltene precipitation curve (Fig.1) illustrates that no
asphaltene precipitation occurs at pressure above 5056 psia. At
5056 psia, asphaltene begins to precipitate, and the
4 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN
precipitated asphaltene concentration increases with decrease
in pressure for a specific temperature. The precipitated
asphaltene concentration reaches the highest value at the
bubble point pressure of 2050 psia and then decreases with
further decrease of pressure for specific temperature. Two
cases are considered.
Case 1 A vertical well located in the center of the reservoir
is producing oil with a bottom flowing pressure of 1000 psia
and initial flow performance index of 0.048115 bbl/day-psi-ft.
The radius of the wellbore is 0.5 ft. The reservoir is divided
into 21 equal blocks in both x and y directions with a block
length of 100 ft. There is one block in the vertical direction
with a block length of 50 ft. The vertical well is located in the
block 11 and 11 in the x and y-direction.
Nearly three-years of production was predicted and the
results are provided in Fig.8-11. The production rate of the
well declined quickly from more than 4000 bbl/day to less
than 100 bbl/day due to formation damage caused by
asphaltene deposition even though the average reservoir
pressure remained high. The reservoir pressure decreased
quickly at first, then declined slowly at the end of three-year
production. The pressure at the near-wellbore region was the
first to fall below the pressure at which asphaltene begins to
precipitate. As a result, the solubility of the asphaltene
decreased (Fig. 8) and the asphaltene began to precipitate and
deposit in the near wellbore region (Fig. 9, 10). After 25-days
of production, the pressure in the whole reservoir dropped to
below the pressure at which asphaltene starts to precipitate and
the asphaltene was found to precipitate and deposit
everywhere (Fig. 9,10). As a result, the porosity and
permeability declined only in the near-wellbore region at the
beginning, and then, the decline propagated throughout the
whole reservoir (Fig.11). The asphaltene exhibited the lowest
solubility (over the most production period) and largest
precipitate concentration in the near wellbore region.
Therefore, more asphaltene deposition occurred in the near
well bore region than in the region towards to the reservoir
boundary per unit bulk volume, resulting in more damage in
the near-wellbore region.
Case 2 This case involved a horizontal well in a reservoir
with bottomhole flowing pressure of 1,000 psia and initial
flow index of 0.11891 bbl/day-psia-ft. The horizontal wellbore
was 800 ft long, located in the middle of the reservoir, and
extended in the x-direction. The radius of horizontal wellbore
was 0.5 ft. The reservoir was divided into 20 equal blocks with
a block length of 105 ft in x direction, 21 equal blocks with
the block length of 100 ft in y-direction, and one block with
block length of 50 ft in z direction. In the x-direction, the
horizontal wellbore is located in the block 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, and 14. In the y-direction, it is located in block 11. The
coefficients of asphaltene deposition models were the same as
those in Case 1.
At the beginning of the production, the horizontal well
produced at more than 70,000 bbl/day. Due to the high
production rate, the average reservoir pressure decreased
quickly, and therefore, the production rate decreased rapidly.
The high production rate also resulted in decrease of the
SPE 64991
pressure of the blocks around the wellbore quickly and fall
below the pressure at which asphaltene starts to precipitate.
Asphaltene began to precipitate and deposit in the near-
wellbore region during the first 5 days of production, and the
asphaltene had the lowest solubility, the highest precipitate
concentration, and the highest quantity of deposits in the
blocks where the horizontal wellbore was located. After five
days, the pressure in the blocks, where the wellbore was
located, dropped to below the bubble point pressure. Also, the
dissolved asphaltene concentration in the blocks, where
horizontal wellbore was located, increased with the decrease
in pressure. The minimum asphaltene solubility and maximum
concentration of asphaltene precipitates moved from the near-
wellbore region towards the outer boundary (Fig. 12, 13,)
because the asphaltene solubility decreased with the pressure
decrease initially and increased with the pressure decrease
after the pressure dropped to below 2050 psia. The maximum
asphaltene precipitate concentration occurred in the blocks
close to the wellbore over 400 days (Fig. 13) and the highest
quantity of asphaltene deposits were calculated in these blocks
(Fig. 14). As a result, the porosity and permeability in these
blocks decreased severely. The most severe damage occurred
beyond the wellbore region rather than the blocks located near
the wellbore (Fig. 15)
Conclusions
The model and method reported in this paper adequately
simulate the asphastene precipitation and deposition in
petroleum reservoirs.
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37. Haskett, C. E., and Tartera, M., “A Practical Solution to
the Problem of Asphaltene Deposits----Hassi Messaoud
Field, Algeria”, Journal of Petroleum Technology, April
1965, 387-391.
38. Tuttle, R. N., “High-Pour-Point and Asphaltic Crude Oils
and Condensates”, Journal of Petroleum Technology,
June 1983, 1192-1196.
39. Thawer, R., N., David, C. A., and Dick, G., “Asphaltene
Deposition in Production Facilities”, SPE Production
Engineering, November 1990, 475-480.
40. Leontaritis, K. J., “The Asphaltene and Wax Deposition
Envelopes”, Fuel Science and Technology International,
Vol. 14, No. 1&2, 1996, 13-39.
41. Peramanu, S., Clarke, P. F., and Pruden, B. B., “Flow
Loop Apparatus to Study the Effect of Solvent,
Temperature and Additives on Asphaltene Precipitation”,
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 23,
133-143, 1999.
42. Civan, F., “Modeling and Simulation of Formation
Damage By Organic Deposition”, Presented at the First
International Symposium in Colloid Chemistry in Oil
Table 1 Basic information about asphaltene
Feature Information
Definition Materials in crude oil, insoluble in n-heptane, but
soluble in benzene or toluene
Elemental Carbon: 80.42~88.65%;
Compositions Hydrogen: 7.44%~11.10%; Oxygen: 0.3~4.9%
Sulfur: 0.3~10.3%; Nitrogen: 0.6~3.3%
Molecular Polynuclear aromatic ring systems with alkyl side
Structure chains
Molecular 1500~2500
Weight
SPE 64991
Production: Asphaltenes and Wax Deposition,
ISCOP’95,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 26-29, 1995, 102-
107.
43. Ali, M. A., and Islam, M. R., “The Effect of Asphaltene
Precipitation on Carbonate-Rock Permeability: An
Experimental and Numerical Approach”, SPE Production
& Facilities, August, 1998, 178-183.
44. Wang S., Civan F. and Strycker A. R., “Simulation of
Paraffin and Asphaltene Deposition in Porous Media”,
paper SPE 50746 presented at the SPE 1999 International
Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, Houston, Texas. Feb.
16-19, 1999, 57-66.
45. Leontaritis, K. J., “Asphaltene Near-wellbore Formation
Damage Modeling”, paper SPE 39446 presented at the
SPE Formation Damage Control Conference held in
Lafayette, Louisiana, February 18-19, 1998, 277-287.
46. Kocabas, I. and Islam, M. R., “A Wellbore Model for
Predicting Asphaltene Plugging”, SPE paper 49199,
presented at the SPE 73rd Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana,
September 27-30, 1998, 1-22.
47. Wang, S. and Civan, F., “Field Simulation of Asphaltene
Deposition for Asphaltenic Petroleum Reservoirs”, paper
IBP 05500 presented at 2000 Rio Oil & Gas Expo and
Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 16-19,
2000.
48. Jhaverl, B. S. and Youngren, G. K., “Three-Parameter
Modification of the Peng-Robinson Equation of State to
Improve Volumetric Predictions”, SPE Reservoir
Engineering, August, 1988, 1033-1040.
49. Hildebrank, J. H., “Solubility. XII. Regular Solutions”,
Journal of American Chemical Society, Vol. 51, 1929,
66-80.
50. Minssieux, L., “Core Damage From Crude Asphaltene
Deposition”, paper SPE 37250 presented at the SPE
International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry held in
Houston, TX, U. S. A., February 18-21, 1997.
51. Civan, F., Reservoir Formation Damage-Fundamentals,
Modeling, Assesment, and Mitigation, Gulf Publish
Company, Houston, 742p, 2000.
References Comments
2, 3 Defined by solubility rather than
molecular structure
3, 4 The asphaltenes from different sources
have different elemental compositions
3 Different molecules may have different
number of rings
3, 5 Measured by the method that prevents
asphaltene molecule aggregation
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 7

Table 2 Related experiments about asphaltene

Experiment Equipment Fluid Results References Comments
and Method
Electron Electron Crude oil No dark spots or 6, 7 The oil film is clear and
Microscope, asphaltene particles uniform
Microscope
Observation
Electron Electron A mixture of Many dark spots 6, 7 Asphaltene precipitation and
Microscope, crude oil with observed aggregation by solvent
Microscope
Observation hydrocarbon
solvent
Electrical Effect Electrodes, Crude oil Asphaltene adsorbs 7
Apply electrical onto positive
potential electrodes
Silica, Crude oil Clear and uniform 8 Flowing through silica may
Electron before flowing. cause asphaltene precipitation
Electrical Effect
Microscope, Dark spots observed
Flowing and after
observation flowing
Ultra-centrifuge, Crude oil Asphaltene particles. 9, 10 Strong centrifugal force may
Sediment Particle weight: cause asphaltene precipitation
Ultra-centrifuge 30,000 and aggregation
Visual cell, Crude oil Completely reversible 11 Reversible in pressure
Pressure depletion precipitation and depletion
Reversibility and dissolution
observation
Optical Mixture of Completely reversible 12 Breaking aggregation needs
Microscope, crude oil and precipitation and extra energy.
Adding fresh oil hydrocarbon dissolution
Reversibility into mixture , solvent
stirring and
applying
ultrasound
Visual Inject mixture Asphaltene 13 Reversible during flowing in
Micromodel, of oil and precipitates and synthetic porous media
Reversibility Flowing and solvent first, deposits and then
observation and then fresh disappear gradually
oil after injecting fresh oil
Core, Inject mixture Pressure builds up first 14 Reversible during flow in
Flowing and of oil and and declines gradually natural porous media
Reversibility observing pressure solvent first, after injecting fresh oil
drop and then fresh
oil
Molecular Ultra-centrifuge Crude oil 30,000 9, 10 Strong centrifugal force may
Weight cause asphaltene precipitation
and aggregation
Osmotic pressure Solution of 80,000 15 Solvent causes asphaltene
Molecular asphaltene in aggregation
Weight solvent
Small-Angle Solution of 20,000 - 138,400 16 Solvent causes asphaltene
Molecular Neutron and X-Ray asphaltene in aggregation
Weight Scattering solvent
8 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN SPE 64991

Table 2 Related experiments about asphaltene (continued)

Osmotic pressure Solution of 80,000 15 Solvent causes asphaltene
Molecular asphaltene in aggregation
Weight solvent
Small-Angle Solution of 20,000 - 138,400 16 Solvent causes asphaltene
Molecular Neutron and X-Ray asphaltene in aggregation
Weight Scattering solvent
Molecular Cryoscopic method 600 - 6,000 15
Weight
Molecular Viscosity 900 - 2000 17
Weight determinations
Molecular Mono-molecular Solution of 80,000 - 140,000 18 Solvent causes asphaltene
Weight method asphaltene in aggregation
solvent
Preventing Solution of 1500 - 2500 3, 5 Represents real molecular
Molecular aggregation asphaltene in weight of asphaltene
Weight method solvent that
prevents
aggregation

Table 3 Physical models of asphaltene in crude oil

Model Assumptions References Comments
Real Asphaltene is dissolved in crude oil and crude 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, Reversibility experiments strongly
Solution oil forms a real solution 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 support this model.
Colloidal Asphaltene is suspended in crude oil and 2, 3, 4, 9, 18, 33, 34, 35, 36 Reversibility experiments are
Model peptized by resins. The asphaltene precipitation strongly against this model. Even
is irreversible. When the ratio of resins to the ratio of resin to asphaltene
asphaltene contents is larger than 1.25, the crude contents is as high as 22, some
oil is stable and creates no precipitation and crude oil still has asphaltene
deposition problems. precipitation and deposition
problems

Table 4 Factors affecting the asphaltene precipitation during primary oil recovery
Factors Change of Factors Asphaltene Solubility References Comments
Pressure is above the bubble 11, 19, 28, 37, 38,
Pressure point and decrease decrease 39
Pressure is below the bubble 11, 19, 28, 37, 38,
Pressure point and decrease increase 39
Temperature Increase increase 20
Temperature Increase decrease 19
Increase and below reservoir increase 40, 41
Temperature temperature
Increase and above the reservoir decrease 40, 41 Need more experiments
Temperature temperature to investigate the effect
of temperature
Composition Dissolved gas increase decrease 19
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 9

Table 5 Asphaltene precipitation models

Model Assumptions References Comments
Regular Solution Low pressure, Pressure change is small 23, 29 Its assumptions make this model not
Model applicable to primary oil recovery
Polymer Solution Vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and liquid-liquid 11, 19, 24, 28
Model equilibrium (LLE). LLE does not affect VLE
Colloidal Model Asphaltene is peptized by resins as particles. 34, 36 Experimental evidences are against
The precipitation process is irreversible. this model.
When the ratio of resin to asphaltene contents is
larger than a critical value, the crude oil is stable.

Table 6 Models for asphaltene deposition in core test

Model Assumption Transport Precipitation Deposition Comments
Model Model Model
Civan The flow channels in Mass balance equations Regular solution Surface deposition, Match
42, 51 porous media are for vapor phase, liquid model pore throat plugging , experimental data
grouped into plugging phase, paraffin and and entrainment of very well.
and nonplugging asphaltene components. deposits.
pathways.
Ali and Asphaltene is Mass balance equation Adsorption, Asphaltene must
Islam suspended in crude oil for asphaltene surface deposition, precipitate first
43 and ready to deposit entrainment of and then deposit.
deposits
Wang et Asphaltene Mass balance equations Ideal solution Surface deposition, Precipitation
al. precipitation can be for vapor phase, liquid model pore throat plugging , model is over
44 simulated by ideal- phase, paraffin and and entrainment of simplified.
solution theory. asphaltene components. deposits.

Table 7 Models for asphaltene deposition in reservoirs

Model Assumptions Transport Precipitation Deposition Comments
Model Model Model
Leontaritis Psuedosteady state Darcy equation Colloidal Surface deposition, The model can only be used
45 flow. Damage area model entrainment of near wellbore region in short
does not change. deposits production time. Numerical
Pressure does not results are unstable.
change in the outside
of damage area.
Nghiem et al. Asphaltene can be Composition Regular Adsorption Adsorption is not a major
32 grouped into simulator solution deposition mechanism and
precipitating and non- model does not represent the major
precipitating feature of asphaltene
components. deposition.
Kocabas et al. Asphaltene is One-dimensional Adsorption, Asphaltene must precipitate
46 suspended as particles mass balance surface deposition, first and then deposit.
in crude oil and ready equation for entrainment of
to precipitate. asphaltene deposits
Wang and Asphaltene deposition Third- Third-order Surface deposition, The precipitation model is
Civan envelope can be dimensional, bi-variate pore throat empirical curve fitting of data
47 simulated by a bi- three-phase truncated plugging, and
variant truncated black oil power series entrainment of
power series simulator. deposits
10 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN SPE 64991

Table 8- The compositions of crude oil used in the experiment of asphaltene precipitation [Burke et al., 19] and parameters used to
match the experimental data [present study]
N2 CO 2 C1 C2 C3 i - C4 n - C4 i - C5 n - C5 C6 C 7+
Composition 0.57 2.46 36.37 3.47 4.05 0.59 1.34 0.74 0.83 1.62 47.96
(mol %)
Critical -232.5 -220.4 -116.7 89.9 206.1 274.5 305.6 369.1 385.8 458.0 628.0
Temperature, D F
Critical Pressure, 493.1 507.5 666.4 706.5 616.0 527.9 550.6 490.4 488.6 436.9 428.9
psia
Acentric Factor 0.0372 0.0484 0.0104 0.0979 0.1522 0.1852 0.1995 0.2280 0.2514 0.2994 0.4714
Shift Parameter 0.0 0.0 -0.154 -0.100 -0.085 -0.079 -0.064 -0.044 -0.042 -0.015 0.0415

Table 9 Data used in the simulation of experimental data and the model parameters determined by trial and error [present study]
GF1 GF3 GV10 GV5 GP9 HMD26
Core Properties
Initial Permeability, md 107 77.4 18.0 29.0 1.1 0.67
Initial Porosity, % 13.1 13.7 24.3 24.7 22.6 7.1
Length of Core Sample , cm 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
Diameter of Core Sample , cm 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3
Oil Properties
API of Crude Oil 29.0 29.0 29.0 29.0 43.0 43.0
Asphaltene Content wt.% 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 0.15 0.15
Experimental Data
Flow Rate, cm3 / hour 50 10 10 10 10 8
D 50 50 50 50 80 80
Temperature, C
Deposition Parameters
Dpcr , cm 0.00048 0.00016

u cr , L , cm / sec 0.0 0.0145 0.01 0.01 0.000643 0.0

α , 1 / sec 0.0017 0.0018 0.0051 0.0128 0.0275 0.0065
β i , 1 / cm 0.0 0.69 0.003 0.012 0.0006 0.0

γ i , 1 / cm 0.07 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.035

σ , constant 35 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
f p , constant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 11

1.2 1
Experimental Data
Quantities of Asphaltene Precipitate (weight %)

Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to Initial

0.9
Results Generated
1
by Model
0.8

0.8
0.7

Permeability
0.6 0.6

0.5
0.4
Experimental
0.4
Data

0.2 Simulated
0.3 Results

0.2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
500 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500
Injected Volume (pv)
Pressure, psia
Fig.1 Comparison of Burke et al. experimental Fig.3 Comparison of experimental and
data with results generated by the model simulated results for the GF3 Minssiuex test

1
1
0.9 Experimental
Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to Initial
Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to Initial

Data
0.8 Simulated
0.9 Results
0.7

0.6
Permeability
Permeability

0.8 0.5

0.4

0.3
0.7 Experimental
Data 0.2
Simulated
Results 0.1

0.6 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Injected Volume (pv) Injected Volume (pv)
Fig. 4 Comparison of experimental and
Fig.2 Comparison of experimental and
simulated results for the GV5 Minssiuex
simulated results for the GF1 Minssiuex
test
test
12 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN SPE 64991

1 1

0.9 Experimental
Experimental

Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to

Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to

Data
Data
0.8 Simulated 0.9
Results Simulated
0.7 Results

Initial Permeability
Initial Permeability

0.6 0.8

0.5

0.4 0.7

0.3

0.2 0.6

0.1

0 0.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Injected Volume (pv) Injected Volume (pv)

Fig.5 Comparison of experimental and Fig.7 Comparison of experimental and

simulated results for the GV10 Minssiuex simulated results for the HMD26
test Minssiuex test

Experimental Data
Ratio of Instantaneous Permeability to

0.9 Simulated Results

Initial Permeability

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
0 10 20 30 40 50
Injected Volume (pv)
Fig.6 Comparison of experimental and
simulated results for the GP9 Minssiuex
test
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 13

0.126
Concentration (volume fraction in

0.125
0.124
Dissolved Asphaltene

0.123
0.122
0.121
oil)

0.12
0.119
0.118
0.117 0 day 2 day 25 days 75 days
125 days 175 days 250 days 350 days
0.116 450 days 600 days 800 days 1000 days
0.115
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)
Fig. 8 Dissolved asphaltene distribution along x-direction at different production time
for vertical well

0.009
Asphaltene Precipitate Concentration

0 day 50 days 100 days

0.008 200 days 300 days 400 days
500 days 600 days 800 days
0.007
(volume fraction in oil)

1000 days
0.006

0.005

0.004

0.003

0.002

0.001

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)

Fig.9 Asphaltene precipitate distribution along x-direction at different production

time for vertical well
14 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN SPE 64991

0.03

0 day 100 days 200 days 300 days

Quantities of Asphaltene Deposit

0.025
400 days 500 days 600 days 700 days
(volume fraction of rock)

800 days 900 days 1000 days

0.02

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)
Fig. 10 Asphaltene deposit distribution along x-direction at different production time
for vertical well

26
24
22
Permeability (md)

20
18
16
14
0 day 100 days 150 days
12
250 days 350 days 450 days
10 550 days 650 days 800 days
8 1000 days

6
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)

Fig. 11 Permeability distribution along x-direction at different production time for

vertical well
SPE 64991 PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS BY ASPHALTENE DEPOSITION IN PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS 15

0.126
0.125
Asphaltene (volume fraction in oil)

0.124
Concentration of Dissolved

0.123
0.122
0.121
0.12
0.119
0.118
0.117 0 day 1 day 5 days 25 days
50 days 100 days 200 days 300 days
0.116
400 days 500 days 750 days 1000 days
0.115
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)
Fig.12 Dissolved asphaltene distribution in direction perpendicular to horizontal
wellbore at different production time

0.014
Asphaltene Precipitate Concentration

0 day 1 day 5 days 25 days

0.012 50 days 100 days 200 days 300 days
400 days 500 days 750 days 1000 days
(volume fraction in oil)

0.01

0.008

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)

Fig.13 Asphaltene precipitate distribution in direction perpendicular to horizontal

wellbore at different production time
16 SHAOJUN WANG AND FARUK CIVAN SPE 64991

0.04
0 day 5 days 25 days 50 days
Quantities of Asphaltene Deposits

100 days 200 days 300 days 400 days

500 days 650 days 800 days 1000 days
(volume fraction of rock)

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)

Fig.14 Asphaltene deposit distribution in direction perpendicular to horizontal

wellbore at different production time

26
24
22
20
18
Permeability (md)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
0 day 25 days 50 days 100 days
200 days 300 days 400 days 500 days
2 650 days 800 days 1000 days
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Distance from Wellbore (ft)

Fig.15 Asphaltene permeability distribution in direction perpendicular to horizontal

wellbore at different production time