Modeling asphaltene deposition in production pipelines

A multiphase (oil/gas/asphaltene/water) multicomponent hydrodynamic model is proposed to represent the phenomenon of asphaltene deposition in producing wells. The model is based on the assumption that asphaltene particles are thermodynamically formed at a given set of p-T-x conditions during the flow, and both molecular diffusion and shear removal are two competing mechanisms that define the radial diffusion and later deposition of asphaltene particles for either turbulent or laminar flows in a well. Predictions of the model are presented for the case of two problematic (plugged) wells from the southwest producing area of Mexico, where measured pressure-temperature-depth production profiles related to deposits are available.