Asphaltene Remediation and Improved Oil Recovery by Advanced Solvent Deasphalting Technology

Resin molecules play a crucial role in the stabilityof colloidalasphaltene particles in petroleum reservoirs. De-stabilization ofthe asphaltene/resin interaction due to changes in thermodynamic parameterscan cause asphaltene precipitation, thus leading to petroleum fieldproblems such as decreased in situ permeability, as well as severeplugging problems in production facilities. One remedial technologyused in the oil industry involves developing synthetic resins withenhanced chemical potential to increase the stability of asphaltenein the oil phase. However, accurately predicting what synthetic resinstructures are compatible with asphaltenes in this context can bedifficult and ineffective. Here, we introduce a method that enhancesthe stability of colloidal asphaltene in petroleum fluid by increasingthe concentrations of natural-state oil resins and increases reservoiroil recovery by increasing the oil's aromatic power solvency.The stability of colloidal asphaltene and improvements in oil reservoirrecovery were investigated by using an oil prefractionation processand a solvent deasphalting technology based on the residuum oil supercriticalextraction process to develop three types of deasphalted oils derivedfrom Kuwait Marrat oil. Using these methods, we found that resin concentrationby volume in Marrat oil increased with the removal of more oil fractions.Asphaltene stability in the oil phase was strongly influenced by resinconcentration. The deasphalted oils' aromatic power solvencyincreased the oil reservoir permeability by twofold. No formationdamage was observed for all DAO products in core flooding tests.