Reducing asphaltenes in produced fluids from a wellbore
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorAndrew OGHENA
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Abstract
Embodiments of reducing asphaltenes in produced fluids from a wellbore are provided herein. One embodiment comprises injecting a combination of gas and coated nanoparticles into a wellbore during a gas lift operation. The coated nanoparticles adsorb asphaltenes in the wellbore, thereby inhibiting asphaltene deposition, reducing asphaltene molecule interaction, reducing agglomeration of asphaltenes, or any combination thereof. The embodiment further comprises recovering produced fluids through the wellbore.
Claims20
A method of reducing asphaltenes in produced fluids from a wellbore, the method comprising:
- injecting a combination of gas and coated nanoparticles into a wellbore during a gas lift operation, wherein the coated nanoparticles adsorb asphaltenes in the wellbore, thereby inhibiting asphaltene deposition, reducing asphaltene molecule interaction, reducing agglomeration of asphaltenes, or any combination thereof;
- and
- recovering produced fluids through the wellbore.
A system of reducing asphaltenes in produced fluids from a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a wellbore drilled into a subsurface reservoir;
- and
- a combination of gas and coated nanoparticles injected into the wellbore during a gas lift operation, wherein the coated nanoparticles adsorb asphaltenes in the wellbore, thereby inhibiting asphaltene deposition, reducing asphaltene molecule interaction, reducing agglomeration of asphaltenes, or any combination thereof;
- and
- wherein produced fluids are recovered through the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.