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 asphaltene stability within a crude oil sample that includes obtaining a crude oil sample and performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample. The method further includes measuring, via a cylindrical capacitor, a dielectric constant of the crude oil sample and its fractions. Responsive to the measured dielectric constant, the stability of the asphaltenes within crude oil sample is determined.
Claims20
A method of determining asphaltene stability within a crude oil sample, the method comprising:
- obtaining a crude oil sample;
- 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;
- and
- responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining a stability of asphaltene fraction within crude oil sample.
A method of determining asphaltene stability of 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 a stability of asphaltene fraction within crude oil sample;
- and
- responsive to the determined asphaltene stability being below a minimum threshold, mitigating asphaltene instability in the crude oil flow.
A system for determining a dielectric constant of a crude oil sample, the system comprising:
- a cylindrical capacitor comprising:
- an inner cylinder;
- an outer cylinder;
- a base coupled to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder defining an annulus there between;
- a measuring device electrically coupled to the inner cylinder and to the outer cylinder, the measuring device applying an electrical voltage across the annulus;
- and
- wherein the measuring device measures a capacitance across the annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.