Method and system for stability determination of asphaltenes utilizing dielectric constant measurements
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsBerna Hascakir, Abhishek Punase
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Abstract
A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present in a crude oil sample includes obtaining a crude oil sample and performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample. In one embodiment, the method further includes measuring, via a cylindrical capacitor, a dielectric constant of the crude oil sample. Responsive to the measured dielectric constant, presence of unstable asphaltenes within the crude oil sample is determined. Responsive to the determined presence of unstable asphaltenes in an amount above a predetermined value, asphaltene precipitation is mitigated by addition of a chemical additive to the well.
Claims20
A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present within a crude oil sample, the method comprising:
- obtaining a crude oil sample from a well;
- introducing the crude oil sample to an annulus formed in a cylindrical capacitor;
- applying, via a measuring device, an electrical voltage across the annulus and through the crude oil sample;
- measuring, via the measuring device, a dielectric constant of asphaltenes and desasphalted oil fractions of the crude oil sample;
- responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining if unstable asphaltenes are present within the crude oil sample;
- and
- responsive to a determination that unstable asphaltenes are present in the crude oil sample in an amount above a predetermined value, mitigating asphaltene precipitation via addition of a chemical additive to the well.
A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present in a crude oil flow, the method comprising:
- placing a crude oil sample in an annulus formed in a cylindrical capacitor;
- performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample in order to obtain a volume fraction of asphaltenes and deasphalted oil present in the crude oil sample;
- determining a colloidal instability index of the crude oil sample;
- applying, via a measuring device, an electrical voltage across the annulus and through the crude oil sample;
- measuring, via the measuring device, a dielectric constant of the asphaltenes and the desasphalted oil fractions of the crude oil sample;
- responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining if unstable asphaltenes are present within the crude oil sample;
- and
- responsive to a determination that unstable asphaltenes are present in the crude oil sample in an amount above a predetermined value, introducing a chemical additive to the crude oil flow to mitigate asphaltene instability in the crude oil flow.
A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present within a crude oil sample, the method comprising:
- obtaining a crude oil sample from a well;
- introducing the crude oil sample to an annulus formed in a cylindrical capacitor;
- applying, via a measuring device, an electrical voltage across the annulus and through the crude oil sample;
- measuring, via the measuring device, a dielectric constant of asphaltenes and desasphalted oil fractions of the crude oil sample;
- responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining if unstable asphaltenes are present within the crude oil sample;
- and
- responsive to a determination that unstable asphaltenes are present in the crude oil sample in an amount above a predetermined value, mitigating asphaltene precipitation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.