Morphology and Size Distribution Characterization of Precipitated Asphaltene from Live Oil During Pressure Depletion |
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| Authors: | Zeinab Hosseini-Dastgerdi Eghbal Sahraei Hojjat Nowroozi |
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| Institution: | 1. Sahand Research Institute of Oil &2. Gas , Sahand University of Technology , Tabriz , Iran;3. Chemical Engineering Department , Sahand University of Technology , Tabriz , Iran;4. Petroleum Engineering and Development Company , Tehran , Iran |
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| Abstract: | The size and morphology of asphaltene aggregates, precipitated from live oil by pressure depletion at the reservoir temperature was studied using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The experimental studies showed that the mean size of aggregates increased when pressure decreased. The results indicate that the morphology of aggregates was changed from amorphous spherical and elliptical shapes to irregular. A bimodal distribution function was able to describe the size distribution in pressure range of 500 to 3500 psi. At higher pressure, the unimodel was able to represent the size distribution. The results showed reduction in live oil stability and asphaltene aggregation with pressure drop. |
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| Keywords: | Asphaltene morphology pressure depletion size distribution |
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