Comparative Analysis of CO 2, N 2, and Gas Mixture Injection on Asphaltene Deposition Pressure in Reservoir Conditions

Peng Wang, Fenglan Zhao, Jirui Hou, Guoyong Lu, Meng Zhang and Zhixing Wang
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Peng Wang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Fenglan Zhao: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Jirui Hou: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Guoyong Lu: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Meng Zhang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Zhixing Wang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: CO 2 and N 2 injection is an effective enhanced oil recovery technology in the oilfield especially for low-permeability and extra low-permeability reservoirs. However, these processes can induce an asphaltene deposition during oil production. Asphaltene-deposition-induced formation damage is a fairly severe problem. Therefore, predicting the likelihood of asphaltene deposition in reservoir conditions is crucial. This paper presents the results of flash separation experiments used to investigate the composition of crude oil in shallow and buried-hill reservoirs. Then, PVTsim Nova is used to simulate the composition change and asphaltene deposition of crude oil. Simulation tests indicate that the content of light components C 1 -C 4 and heavy components C 36+ decrease with increasing CO 2 and N 2 injection volumes. However, the extraction of CO 2 is significantly stronger than that of N 2 . In shallow reservoirs, as the CO 2 injection volume increases, the deposition pressure range decreases and asphaltenes are easily deposited. Conversely, the asphaltene deposition pressure of crude oil injected with N 2 is higher and will not cause serious asphaltene deposition. When the CO 2 -N 2 injection ratio reaches 1:1, the deposition pressure range shows a significant transition. In buried-hill reservoirs, asphaltene deposition is unlikely to occur with CO 2 , N 2 , and a gas mixture injection.

Keywords: CO 2; N 2 and gas mixture injection; composition change; asphaltene deposition pressure; injection volume; injection ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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