Effect of existence state of asphaltenes on the asphaltenes-wax interaction in wax deposition

Asphaltenes are the most elusive substances in waxy crude oil,especially the complex structures,which leads to significant precipitation and aggregation characteristics of asphaltenes,and affects the asphaltenes-wax interaction.In this study,the concept of the existence state of asphaltenes was introduced to semi-quantitatively investigate the precipitation and aggregation characteristics of asphaltenes.On this basis,the influence of the existence state of asphaltenes on wax deposition was studied by coldfinger device and high-temperature gas chromatography,and the composition and properties of the deposits were analyzed.Four main findings were made:(1)As the asphaltene concentration increases,the existence state of asphaltenes gradually transitions from dispersed state to aggregated state,and the asphaltene concentration of 0.30 wt%in this study is the starting point of the transition.(2)The existence state of asphaltenes in crude oil does affect the process of wax deposition,as shown in the fact that the dispersed asphaltenes promote the occurrence of wax deposition,while the aggregated asphaltenes can inhibit wax deposition.(3)In the presence of the aggregated asphaltenes,that is,when the asphaltene concentration is higher than 0.30 wt%,the shedding phenomenon of deposit layer was observed,and with the increase of aggregated asphaltenes,the deposit layer fell off earlier.(4)With the increase of the dispersed asphaltenes,the wax appearance temperature(WAT)and wax content of the deposits all showed an increasing trend,while with the appearance of the aggregated asphaltenes,the above situation was reversed.The findings of this study can help for better understanding of the interaction between the asphaltenes and wax in wax deposition.

The influence of composition of asphaltenes of different genesis on the properties of carbon materials manufactured from them by plasma processing

The results of experimental studies of carbon materials, which are formed in the plasma of a direct current (DC) arc discharge initiated in open air from the asphaltenes of different origins, extracted from the natural asphaltite and from the oil of the Sredne-Ugutskoye Oilfield, are presented. The influence of the initial asphaltene composition on the composition and properties of the resulting carbon materials is analyzed. The initial asphaltenes and the samples of the carbon materials are characterized by the methods of X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, IR-Fourier spectroscopy, laser diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The changes in the composition and structure of the asphaltenes are determined before and after their plasma treatment and the hypotheses are put forward concerning the chemical processes causing the changes in the molecular structure of the samples. As a result of plasma treatment of asphaltenes (100 A, 30 s), it was shown that graphitization occurs, as well as oxidation, and a decrease in sulfur content. Moreover, nanotubes and nano-onions have been detected using electron microscopy. Petroleum asphaltenes after plasma treatment give a less thermostable carbon material, but with a lower content of heteroatoms, and with a large amount of sulfur in the composition of sulfoxide structural fragments. This method is shown to be a promising technology for processing the petroleum feedstock enriched with heavy asphaltene components for the manufacture of carbon nanomaterials: nanotubes, nano-onions and polyhedral graphite.

The deposition of asphaltenes under high-temperature and highpressure (HTHP) conditions

In this work,the factors affecting asphaltenes deposition in high-temperature and high-pressure wells were studied using backscattered light and PVT equipment customized to suit the well conditions.In an examination of the intensity of backscattered light,it was revealed that there exists a linear relationship between temperature and asphaltene precipitation within a specific temperature range.Within this range,a decrease in temperature tends to accelerate asphaltene precipitation.However,the impacts of pressure and gas-oil ratio are more pronounced.The pressure depletion induces the asphaltenes to precipitate out of the solution,followed by the formation of flocs below the bubble point.In addition,an increase in the gas-oil ratio causes a more severe asphaltene deposition,shifting the location of asphaltenes to deep well sections.

Asphaltenes: Separations, structural analysis and applications

Asphaltenes, complex aromatic compounds from various carbonaceous sources, could be obtained by solvent dissolution, filtration and adsorption. It was difficult to clarify the molecular structures and chemical properties of asphaltene due to its structural similarity, composition complexity and source dependences. Many techniques, like Mass spectrometry, Chromatography, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Roman spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and Small-angle scattering techniques and so on, have revealed some valuable descriptions of asphaltenes chemical compositions and fundamental structures. Moreover, advanced Mass spectrometry,Atomic force microscopy and Scanning tunneling microscopy could provide more clear and essential molecular compounds and structures in asphaltenes. In addition, several asphaltenes models have succeeded to illustrate aggregation properties asphaltene. In this work, the progress on asphaltene separation, characterization and application was summarized, and the similarities and differences between coal-derived asphaltenes and petroleum asphaltenes were compared. Furthermore, the reactivity of asphaltenes has been discussed in the aspect of hydroprocessing, pyrolysis and gasification. Asphaltene was excellent carbon precursor for functional carbon material due to its high aromaticity and carbon yield;several porous carbon nanosheets from asphaltenes that would be prospective electrode materials after being graphitized were shown. Pitch-based carbon fiber derived from coal-derived asphaltenes displayed a tensile strength of 1.0 GPa and elastic modulus of 350 MPa, respectively. These powerful advances will provide asphaltenes promising developments.

Catalytic conversion of asphaltenes to BTXN using metal-loaded modified HZSM-5

HZSM-5 zeolites with Si/Al ratios of 20,35,50 and 65 were prepared by the directing crystallization process of silicalite-1 seeds.The influence of Si/Al ratios on the production of benzene,toluene,xylene and naphthalene(BTXN)originated from asphaltenes catalytic pyrolysis was explored by adopting Py-GC/MS.Modified Z5-50 zeolites were prepared by various metal ions(Ni^(2+),Mo^(6+),Fe^(3+),and Co^(2+))with different loading rates(3%(mass),5%(mass),7%(mass),and 9%(mass))and the physical and chemical properties of these zeolites were characterized by XRD,SEM,ICP-OES,XPS,NH_(3)-TPD,FTIR,Py-IR and N_(2)adsorption-desorption isotherm.In addition,they were employed to catalyze the conversion of asphaltenes pyrolysis production to BTXN using Py-GC/MS.Results show that the highest relative content of aromatics has been obtained over HZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 50(Z5-50),reaching 61.87%.Besides,the loading of Ni,Mo,Fe,and Co on Z5-50 leads to an increase of acid strength and provides new active sites.The relative content of BTXN increases by 3.17%over 3Ni-Z5,which may be ascribed to that Ni promoted the conversion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)to monocyclic aromatics due to the cracking of aliphatic side chains of PAHs and the decrease of phenolic activation energy.While under the catalysis of 5Mo-Z5,the relative content of aromatics and BTXN augmented by 5.75%and 4.02%,respectively.In addition,the highest relative content of aromatics reaches 70.09%when the loading rate of Fe was 7%(mass),and the relative content of BTXN increases from 25.87%to 29.42%.The results demonstrate that the active sites provided by different metal species expressed diverse effects on BTXN.Although the Bronsted/Lewis acid ratios of HZSM-5 modified by metal decreased,the acid strength and the relative content of BTXN both increased,which illustrated that there is a synergistic catalysis with the Bronsted acid sites and Lewis acid sites provided by metal species.In general,the performance of the catalyst is affected by the pore structure,acidity and metal active sites.Moreover,the possible formation mechanism of BTXN derived from asphaltenes catalytic pyrolysis was proposed on the basis of structural features and catalytic performances of a series of zeolites.

Role of the porphyrins and demulsifiers in the aggregation process of asphaltenes at water/oil interfaces under desalting conditions:a molecular dynamics study

Breaking water-in-oil emulsions during the refining of crude oils is an important step before any upgrading process is started.Asphaltene molecules are incriminated as playing an important role in this phenomenon.Unraveling the mechanisms behind the affinity between them and water is a key step to understand how to break these emulsions more easily and require lower amounts of demulsifiers.Choosing which demulsifier molecule(s)to use is also primordial,but to do so rationally,one needs to know which are the molecular interactions in place between asphaltenes,porphyrins and water so that demulsifiers are chosen to destabilize a specific physical–chemical interaction.In this paper,we study the interactions arising between asphaltenes and porphyrins and six different molecules potentially displaying a demulsification action in the presence of water/oil interfaces.We demonstrate that the ionic demulsifier molecules present an interesting potential to either interact strongly with water,replacing asphaltenes in this interaction,or to interact with the active sites of asphaltenes,deactivating them and avoiding any asphaltenic interfacial activity.Finally,we also found that although asphaltenes do not migrate spontaneously toward the water/oil interfaces,porphyrins do so rather easily.This indicates that porphyrins do have an important activity at the water/oil interface.

Investigation of structural parameters and self-aggregation of Algerian asphaltenes in organic solvents

Elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared （FTIR）, 1H-NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and surface tension methods have been used to characterize the molecular structure and the aggregation behaviors of two asphaltenic fractions derived, respectively, from an Alge- rian petroleum well and a corresponding storage tank deposit. Elemental analysis, FTIR, ~H-NMR, and fluores- cence spectroscopy were used to investigate the chemical composition and structural parameters of asphaltenes, while the surface tension method was used to measure the critical micelle concentration （CMC） in organic solvents with different solubility parameters and polarities in order to characterize the asphaltenes＇ aggregation behaviors. Results show that the unstable asphaltenes fraction extracted from the storage tank deposit possesses a higher polarity （higher heteroatoms content） and a lower aro- maticity than stable asphaltenes from the petroleum well. The CMC results indicate that asphaltenes with high polarity and low aromaticity have a high solubility in polar solvents such as nitrobenzene, whereas asphaltenes with low polarity and high aromaticity are more soluble in solvents with weak polarity, like toluene. It is concludedthat the difference of structure of asphaltene samples and polarity of solvents can lead to difference of aggregation behaviors.

Waxes in asphaltenes of crude oils and wax deposits

Composition and molecular mass distribution of n-alkanes in asphaltenes of crude oils of different ages and in wax deposits formed in the borehole equipment were studied. In asphaltenes, n-alkanes from C12 to C60 were detected. The high molecular weight paraffins in asphaltenes would form a crystalline phase with a melting point of 80–90 ℃. The peculiarities of the redistribution of high molecular paraffin hydrocarbons between oil and the corresponding wax deposit were detected. In the oils, the high molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons C50–C60were found, which were not practically detected in the corresponding wax deposits.

Synthesis and self-association of dibenzothiophene derivatives for simulation of hydrogen bonding interaction in asphaltenes

The dibenzothiophene derivatives, namely 2-（dibenzothiophene-2-carbonyl）benzoic acid and 2-（diben- zothiophene-2-carbonyl）alkyl benzoate, were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance （1H NMR）, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The self- association behavior of these dibenzothiophene derivatives in CH2C12 and CH3CN was investigated using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spec- troscopy, and atomic force microscopy. It was found that the carboxylic acid exhibited a strong self-association trend in CH2C12 solution at a concentration of about 5 × 10^-7 M. Hydrogen bonding of carboxyl in the dibenzoth- iophene derivatives was confirmed to be the main driving force for the formation of the carboxylic acid aggregates.

Precipitation of Heavy Organics (Asphaltenes) from Crude Oil Residue Using Binary Mixtures of n-Alkanes

Two solvent mixtures: n-pentane/n-hexane and n-heptane/n-octane at ten different percentage ratios were used to dissolve 2.5 g of vacuum distilled Anthan crude oil residue (500°C). The crude oil/n-alkane mixture in different conical flasks was stoppered, shaked mechanically and allowed to stand overnight. The resultant solution was subsequently filtered using a vacuum pump to afford the different weights of the residue (asphaltenes). The result of the weights of asphaltenes obtained at the different ratios of solvent mixtures showed that the highest amount of precipitate was obtained at 100% n-pentane solvent. Also there was a sharp increase in the amount of asphaltenes precipitated when the percentage ratio of n-pentane to n-hexane precipitant was 40:60 and when the ratio of n-heptane to n-octane precipitant was 30:70. A good understanding of the contribution of the different n-alkane solvents in the precipitation of asphaltenes is very necessary to flow assurance of crude oils in terms of solid precipitation.

Characterization of Crude Oil, Asphaltenes Based on Bismuth (Bi), Thorium (Th) and Uranium (U) Levels: Potential Environmental Impact

The actinides (Th, U) and bismuth exist at ultra-trace levels in petroleum and have rarely been reported to characterize combustible fuels. However, high-performance mass spectrometry coupled with plasma technology has succeeded in reaching detectable limits in the ng/L range, and has thus made such characterization possible. Crude oil is used as sludge for certain agricultural purposes;and asphaltenes are converted to by-products for constructing car parks, pavements, roofing material and thoroughfares. Our study uncovers an area that has not been previously explored and we examine the potential ecotoxicology of bismuth, thorium and uranium in this context. Asphaltene derivatives were separated from crude oil samples via multiple-stage soxhlet extraction. The virgin crude oil and isolated asphaltenes were investigated for Bi, Th and U content using a high-powered hyphenated facility. A Perkin Elmer SCIEX DRC-e ICP coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer was employed to detect the elements of interest. The levels of these elements occurred in the mg/L (ppm) and μg/L (ppb) ranges and were compared for crude oil and asphaltenes. The data showed higher levels of the detected elements in the asphaltene phase. The feasibility of applying the experimental results as a fingerprinting tool for provenancing crude oil and asphaltenes was examined. The results are discussed from the perspective of bismuth and actinide pollution and its long-term impact on sustainable development.

Co-adsorption behavior of aggregated asphaltenes and silica nanoparticles at oil/water interface and its effect on emulsion stability

In petroleum industry, crude oil emulsions are commonly formed in oilfields. The asphaltenes and fine particles in crude oil may affect the stability of the emulsions by adsorbing at the water/oil interface. In this research, the effect of silica nanoparticles and asphaltenes on emulsion stability is explored first. The asphaltenes are proved to benefit emulsion stability. Unlike the asphaltenes, however, the modified silica nanoparticles may have positive or negative effect on emulsion stability, depending on the asphaltene concentration and aggregation degree in the emulsions. Further, it is confirmed by conducting interfacial experiment that the asphaltenes and particles can adsorb at the interface simultaneously and determine the properties of the interfacial layer. More in-depth experiments concerning contact angle and asphaltene adsorption amount on the particles indicate that the asphaltenes can modify the wettability of the particles. Higher concentration and lower aggregation degree of the asphaltenes can increase their adsorption amount on the surface of particles and then improve the modification effectiveness of the particles. Resultantly, the particles with good modification effectiveness can enhance the emulsion stability while the particles with poor modification effectiveness will weaken the emulsion stability.

Co-adsorption behaviors of asphaltenes and different flow improvers and their impacts on the interfacial viscoelasticity

Commonly used flow improvers in oilfields,such as ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer(EVA),poly(octadecyl acrylate)(POA),and polymethylsilsesquioxane(PMSQ)are proven to be effective to enhance the flowability of crude oil.However,the addition of these flow improvers may change the stability of the emulsion and make the crude oil treatment process challenging.In this research,the impacts of different flow improvers on the interfacial properties of the emulsions containing asphaltenes are systematically investigated.The co-adsorption behaviors of the flow improvers and asphaltenes are analyzed through dynamic interfacial tension(DIFT).The rheological properties of the interfacial layer after the adsorption are explored via dilational viscoelasticity.Significant difference is observed in the structural properties of the interface adsorbed by different flow improvers,which is attributed to different interactions between the flow improvers and asphaltenes.To investigate these interactions,conductivity,asphaltenes precipitation,dynamic light scattering(DLS),and contact angle experiments are conducted systematically.Results show that EVA and POA can alter the interfacial properties by changing the asphaltene dispersion state.The interaction between EVA and asphaltenes is stronger than that between POA and asphaltenes due to the difference in molecular structures.Unlike EVA and POA,the change of interfacial property with the addition of PMSQ is attributed to the partial adsorption of asphaltenes on PMSQ.

Kinetics and mechanisms of the catalytic thermal cracking of asphaltenes adsorbed on supported nanoparticles

The production of heavy and extra-heavy oil is challenging because of the rheological properties that crude oil presents due to its high asphaltene content.The upgrading and recovery processes of these unconventional oils are typically water and energy intensive,which makes such processes costly and environmentally unfriendly.Nanoparticle catalysts could be used to enhance the upgrading and recovery of heavy oil under both in situ and ex situ conditions.In this study,the effect of the Ni-Pd nanocatalysts supported on fumed silica nanoparticles on post-adsorption catalytic thermal cracking of n-C_7 asphaltenes was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with FTIR.The performance of catalytic thermal cracking of n-C_7asphaltenes in the presence of NiO and PdO supported on fumed silica nanoparticles was better than on the fumed silica support alone.For a fixed amount of adsorbed n-C_7asphaltenes（0.2 mg/m～2）,bimetallic nanoparticles showed better catalytic behavior than monometallic nanoparticles,confirming their synergistic effects.The corrected OzawaFlynn-Wall equation（OFW） was used to estimate the effective activation energies of the catalytic process.The mechanism function,kinetic parameters,and transition state thermodynamic functions for the thermal cracking process of n-C_7 asphaltenes in the presence and absence of nanoparticles are investigated.

Study of Pyrolysis Kinetics of Asphaltenes in Silurian Oilsands in the Tarim Basin

It is a special petroleum geological phenomenon that Silurian oilsands are extensively distributed in the central and northeast Tarim basin. Some geochemical studies of the oilsands have been carried out, but there is still great controversy over the hydrocarbon-regenerating potential of oilsands and the possibility of Silurian oilsands as hydrocarbon source rocks. In this study, the kinetics of asphaltenes pyrolysis was directly used to simulate the potential of Silurian oilsands for regenerating hydrocarbons. According to the experimental results, combined with other related organic geochemical analysis, it is considered that Silurian oilsands in the Tarim basin have a high hydrocarbon-regenerating potential and are latent hydrocarbon source rocks.

Upgradation of Heavy Crude Oil Via Hydrodynamic Cavitation Through Variations in Asphaltenes

In this work,Saudi heavy crude oil(SHCO)was upgraded by the hydrodynamic cavitation technique.The collapse of cavitation bubbles instantly produces extreme conditions such as high temperature,pressure,and jet flow and strong shear forces,which can play a significant role in the upgradation process.The results revealed that the viscosity and Conradson carbon residue of SHCO decreased from 13.61 to 7.22 mm^(2)/s and from 7.16%to 6.48%,respectively.True boiling point distillation findings showed that the vacuum residue(VR)decreased by 1%.Atmospheric-pressure photoionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry,X-ray diffraction,dynamic light scattering,Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the molecular composition,crystalline structure,asphaltene aggregate particle size distribution,functional groups,and morphology,respectively,to understand the effects of hydrodynamic cavitation on asphaltenes.The obtained results demonstrate that hydrodynamic cavitation upgradation reduced the interaction forces between the asphaltene molecules,weakening the crystalline structure of the asphaltene aggregates,reducing the degree of association of the aromatic compounds in SHCO and asphaltenes,and decreasing the average particle size.The delayed coking properties of the VR were further investigated,and the cavitation treatment was found to decrease the coke yield by 1.85%and increase the liquid and gas yields by 1.52%and 0.33%,respectively.Hence,hydrodynamic cavitation can effectively enhance the processing performance of crude oil by improving the properties and structural characteristics of asphaltenes.

n-Alkane bound biomarker fingerprints from asphaltenes in the bitumens of Eastern Dahomey Basin,Nigeria:Source and genetic implications

The asphaltene fractions of the bitumens of Eastern Dahomey Basin in Nigeria,were analyzed by flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography(Py-GC)method in order to unravel its geochemical history and properties.The distributions of the initial biomarkers of the original oils from the pyrolysates are related to the assessment of organic matter source,paleo-redox conditions and source environment during deposition.Also,it effectively establishes the genetic relationship of the bitumens.The n-alkane distributions in the pyrolysates reveal nC_(9)-nC_(32)n-alkanes,maximizing at nC_(14),isoprenoids-pristane(Pr)and phytane(Ph),and some n-alkene peaks.High peaks of low to medium-weight nC_(9)-nC20 n-alkanes and low peaks of nC_(21)+n-alkanes characterize the distributions.These reveal that abundant algal organic matter with some terrigenous inputs contributed to the source rock of the bitumens.The high concentration of marine organic matter inputs to the source rock is further confirmed by the nC_(17)/nC27 ratios which range from 5.39 to 19.82 and shows the predominance of nC_(17)alkanes.The general unimodal n-alkane distributions in the bitumens indicate derivation from similar organic matter types showing that they are genetically related.The anoxic to suboxic environmental conditions that prevailed during the deposition of the sediments is revealed by the isoprenoids,Pr/Ph ratios(0.72-1.28).Pristane/nC_(17)and Phytane/nC_(18)range from 0.16 to 0.33 and 0.22 to 0.56,revealing that the bitumens were from predominantly marine organic matter(type II kerogen)preserved in a reducing environment with no evidence of biodegradation.However,the Ph/nC_(18)ratio and the cross plot of Pr+Ph/nC_(17)+nC_(18)allow the classification of the bitumens into two subfamilies/groups(A and B).The bitumen samples have low wax content as indicated by the degree of waxiness ranging from 0.21 to 0.38 which confirms low terrigenous input.Based on the carbon preference index(CPI:0.92 to 1.55)and odd-even predominance(OEP:0.70 to 1.36),it is concluded that the bitumens are immature to marginally mature.

Numerical Simulation of Asphaltene Precipitation and Deposition during Natural Gas and CO_(2) Injection

Asphaltene deposition is a significant problem during gas injection processes,as it can block the porous medium,the wellbore,and the involved facilities,significantly impacting reservoir productivity and ultimate oil recovery.Only a few studies have investigated the numerical modeling of this potential effect in porous media.This study focuses on asphaltene deposition due to natural gas and CO_(2) injection.Predictions of the effect of gas injection on asphaltene deposition behavior have been made using a 3D numerical simulation model.The results indicate that the injection of natural gas exacerbates asphaltene deposition,leading to a significant reduction in permeability near the injection well and throughout the reservoir.This reduction in permeability strongly affects the ability of gas toflow through the reservoir,resulting in an improvement of the displacement front.The displacement effi-ciency of the injection gas process increases by up to 1.40%when gas is injected at 5500 psi,compared to the scenario where the asphaltene model is not considered.CO_(2) injection leads to a miscible process with crude oil,extracting light and intermediate components,which intensifies asphaltene precipitation and increases the viscosity of the remaining crude oil,ultimately reducing the recovery rate.

Carbon isotopic compositions of 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene in marine oil asphaltenes from the Tarim Basin:Evidence for the source formed in a strongly reducing environment

Although 1-alkyl-2,3,6-trimethylbenzenes and a high relative amount of 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene have been detected in marine oils and oil asphaltenes from Tabei uplift in the Tarim Basin, their bio-logical sources are not determined. This paper deals with the molecular characteristics of typical ma-rine oil asphaltenes from Tabei and Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin and the stable carbon isotopic signatures of individual compounds in the pyrolysates of these asphaltenes using flash pyrolysis-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (PY-GC-MS) and gas chromatograph-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-C-IRMS), respectively. Relatively abundant 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene is detected in the pyrolysates of these marine oil asphaltenes from the Tarim Basin. δ 13C values of 1,2,3,4-tetrame-thylbenzene in the pyrolysates of oil asphaltenes vary from-19.6‰ to-24.0‰, while those of n-alkanes in the pyrolysates show a range from-33.2‰ to-35.1‰. The 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene in the pyro-lysates of oil asphaltenes proves to be significantly enriched in 13C relative to n-alkanes in the pyro-lysates and oil asphaltenes by 10.8‰―15.2‰ and 8.4‰―13.4‰, respectively. This result indicates a contribution from photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria Chlorobiaceae to relatively abundant 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene in marine oil asphaltenes from the Tarim Basin. Hence, it can be speculated that the source of most marine oil asphaltenes from the Tarim Basin was formed in a strongly reducing water body enriched in H2S under euxinic conditions.

Asphaltenes in oil reservior recovery

Asphaltene is one of the important compositions in oil reservoirs, while it is also a major factor that causes difficulties in oil recovery and oil post-processings. Up to date, study on asphaltenes in oil recovery is stili a bottleneck problem, in this paper, the advances of studies on asphaltenes are reviewed, and some directions for further studying are suggested. What is reviewed in the paper includes the precipitation studies of asphaltenes, the degradation studies of asphaltenes and the applications of asphaltene’s studying in oil recovery; furthermore, it is regarded as a promising direction to study the possible applications of asphaltene’s selectively decomposing by chemical reagents in oil recovery.