Investigation of the influences of asphaltene deposition on oilfield development using reservoir simulation

This paper investigates the deposition of asphaltenes in the porous medium of the studied field in Russia and pre-dicts production profiles based on uncertainty evaluation. This problem can be solved by dynamic modeling, during which production profiles are estimated in two scenarios: with and without the activation of the asphaltene option. Calculations are carried out for two development scenarios: field operation under natural depletion and water injection into the aquifer as a reservoir pressure maintenance system. A full-scale compositional reservoir simulation model of the Russian oilfield was cre-ated. Within a dynamic simulation, the asphaltene option was activated and the asphaltene behavior in oil and porous medium was tuned according to our own special laboratory experiments. The model was also matched to production historical data, and a pattern model was prepared using the full-scale simulation model. Technological and the asphaltene option parameters were used in sensitivity and an uncertainty evaluation. Furthermore, probable production profiles within a forecast period were es-timated. The sensitivity analysis of the pattern model to input parameters of the asphaltene option allowed determining the following heavy-hitters on the objective function: the molar weight of dissolved asphaltenes as a function of pressure, the as-phaltene dissociation rate, the asphaltene adsorption coefficient and the critical velocity of oil movement in the reservoir. Un-der the natural depletion scenario, our simulations show a significant decrease in reservoir pressure and the formation of drawdown cones leading to asphaltene deposition in the bottom-hole area of production wells, decreasing their productivity. Water injection generally allows us to significantly reduce the volume of asphaltene phase transitions and has a positive effect on cumulative oil production. Injecting water into aquifer can keep the formation pressure long above the pressure for asphal-tene precipitation, preventing the asphaltene deposition resulted from interaction of oil and water, so this way has higher oil production.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the deposition of asphaltenes in the porous medium of a studied Russian field and predicts production profiles based on uncertainty evaluation. The study finds that under natural depletion, asphaltene deposition decreases the productivity of production wells, while water injection into the aquifer can significantly reduce the volume of asphaltene phase transitions and positively affect cumulative oil production.