Microfluidic Study of the Deposition Dynamics of Asphaltene Subfractions Enriched with Island and Archipelago Motifs

Abstract

Asphaltene-related flow assurance problems are prevalent in oil production processes and are at the heart of issues such as the plugging of pipelines, the damage of rock formations, and the stabilization of viscous water-in-oil emulsions. A comprehensive understanding of the interfacial behavior of asphaltenes, from a physical–chemical perspective, is required for an accurate design of solutions to these challenges. In this work, we elucidate the deposition dynamics of various asphaltene subfractions in a porous media microfluidic model. Extrography fractions from the interlaboratory sample known as PetroPhase 2017 asphaltenes, reported to be a mixture of abundant island and archipelago motifs, and Wyoming deposit C7 asphaltenes, known for being island type dominated, are investigated. The deposition rate increases when the compositional ratio archipelago/island motif increases for PetroPhase 2017 derived fractions, whereas Wyoming deposit asphaltenes appear to exhibit stronger aggregation for fractions whose composition is uniformly island type. In general, the deposition rate is consistent with the amount of precipitated asphaltenes. However, the correlation is not merely a linear one and the pore-scale morphology changes even with similar deposition rates. Estimated diffusivity, the relative ratio of convection and diffusion, and fluid flow profiles are used to explain the dynamic growth of the deposit at the pore scale.

Compositional Trends for Total Vanadium Content and Vanadyl Porphyrins in Gel Permeation Chromatography Fractions Reveal Correlations between Asphaltene Aggregation and Ion Production Efficiency in Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization

“…Collectively, the results support the notion that GPC can be used to access asphaltene aggregation trends, as the results are consistent with previously reported precipitation/deposition behaviors. 29,85 Lack of FT-ICR MS detection of abundant N 4 O 1 51 V 1 compounds in the HMW region, despite the high 51 V abundance revealed by ICP−MS, confirms that APPI FT-ICR MS analysis of asphaltenes is strongly hampered by aggregation.…”

Understanding Asphaltene Fraction Behavior through Combined Quartz Crystal Resonator Sensor, FT-ICR MS, GPC ICP HR-MS, and AFM Characterization. Part I: Extrography Fractionations

“…These nanoaggregates undergo macro-aggregation and precipitation. Their solubility behavior is strongly linked to high heteroatom content and the presence of possible hydrogen bonding. , The presence of Archipelago/Island-type asphaltene monomers can also influence precipitation. , Modelization of asphaltene precipitation needs to divide the petroleum samples into different components/families such as saturates, aromatics, resins, and subdivision of asphaltenes into different families …”

“…16,17 The presence of Archipelago/Islandtype asphaltene monomers can also influence precipitation. 18,19 Modelization of asphaltene precipitation needs to divide the petroleum samples into different components/families such as saturates, aromatics, resins, and subdivision of asphaltenes into different families. 20 Asphaltene Fractionation Strategies.…”

Accelerating Fluid Development on a Chip for Renewable Energy

“…The smallest fluid technologies have much to offer the world’s large-scale fluid challengeenergy and associated CO 2 . Over the last 10 years microfluidic methods have matured in two key application areas of particular value to the energy sector: the measurement of physical properties , and the physical modelling of the pore-scale environment. − In the area of fluid property measurement, microfluidics has proven useful in determining mutual (e.g., CO 2 -oil) properties, such as diffusivities and solubilities, as well as testing emulsion system behaviors. − Although microfabricated physical models of the porous media (or micromodels) long predate microfluidics, − modern fabrication (e.g., silicon-glass microfluidics) and microscopy methods have greatly expanded these capabilities leading to a wide range of applied pressures (up to 50 MPa) and temperatures (up to 300 °C) and the study of pore sizes at unprecedented small scales (down to sub-10 nm). − …”