Asphaltene Deposition Measurement and Modeling for Flow Assurance of Tubings and Flow Lines

A recently developed asphaltene deposition model is tuned with some experimental data obtained in Real View, a high pressure deposition cell. The tuned model is validated with further experimental data. The lab-scale model is then extended to field-scale tubings and flow lines, and the predicted deposition profile is qualitatively compared with field observations. Finally, an experimental protocol is developed for asphaltene deposition measurement and modeling for flow assurance of tubings and flow lines. The successful applications of Real View in investigating the impacts of shear, run time, residence time, pressure, chemical inhibitor, and surface roughness on the deposition of asphaltenes from five fluids from the Gulf of Mexico are also discussed.