Asphaltene Deposition

in Microfluidic System
Yu-Jiun Lin (Nate), Mohammad Tavakkoli,
Francisco M. Vargas, Sibani Lisa Biswal
2014.04.21

What is Asphaltene?
Polydisperse distribution
Precipitate due to Pressure, Temperature, and
composition

n-C5 Asphaltene
*Jill Buckleys Lab (New Mexico Tech)

n-C7 Asphaltene
(Oil industry)
2

Asphaltene Stages

Yen-Mullins Model
Irreversible deposition
(Aging effect)

Soluble: aromatics (toluene and xylene)

Insoluble: n-alkane (n-heptane and n-pentane)
*O. C. Mullins et al, Energy&Fuels, 2012

Experimental Setup
Pressure
Transducer
Computer
Syringe
Pump
Precipitant

Crude oil

Microscop
e
T-junction

Micro-channel

Vial

Vial
Sample Collection
for viscosity
measurement

Experimental Setup
T-junction

Precipitan
t
Crude oil

Syringe
Pump

Inverted
Microscop
e
Vial
Pressure
Transduc
er

Microchannel
5

Previous Work
Use transparent, organic resistant,
and porous media design

50

500
m

Glass capillary tube-> not

easy to design a complex Stainless steel -> not
pattern and size is too big transparent

*E. S. Boek et al, Energy&Fuels, 2008

*J. Wang et al, J. Disp. Sci. &Tech., 2004

PDMS->not organic
resistant

Real-time Asphaltene Deposition

1. n-C7 78.4%,
Oil 21.6%
2. 20 Celcius
3. Centrifuged
oil

60
l/min
H : 20
m
Asphaltene : 0.21
wt%

125m
22
m
7

Permeability Reduction
100
80

Imaging
Process

Asphaltene deposition

60

Asphaltene
coverage (%)
40
20
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Time (second)

Pressure
transduc
er

1200
1000
800
600
Pressure
400
200
0
0

Homogeneous
micromodel

Pressure Drop
drop (mbar)

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Time (second)
1
0.8

Permeability Reduction

0.6

Calculati
on

Permeability
Ratio (unitless)
0.4
0.2
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Time (second)
8

Aging Effect
Aging time : 0 hr

Aging time : 144 hr

Original picture (Before

washing)

Solubility parameter for

mixture:

i : volume fraction
i : solubility parameter for pure
substance

Instability for Aging

Instability: (onset
mixture)
(onset
mixture90)
(onset mixture72)
(onset mixture50)
Aging time : 72 hrs

The higher the instability,

the more soluble asphaltene
will precipitate out.
10

Instability for Deposition

100

80

60

Asphaltene coverage (%)

40

Ratio of
nC7

20

Amount of precipitated asphaltene0

6

0.5

1.5

20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%

C7
C7
C7
C7
C7
C7
C7

Injected Precipitated Asphaltene (mg)

5
4
Asphaltene per oil (mg/ml)

3
2

Instability: (onset
mixture)

1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Volume fraction of nC7 (unitless)

11

Washing Effect

Before

12

Confocal Laser Scanning

Before
washing

Washed by poor
solvent

Dissolved asphaltenes
and resins

Washing enhanced the

aging effect

After 67%heptane
and 33% toluene
washed (Poor
solvent)
Increased light intensity from the
original imaging by 70%
13

Conclusion
Organic resistant microfluidic
channels are able to provide real
time asphaltene deposition with
permeability reduction.
With high sensitivity micromodels,
aging and washing effects can be
analyzed.
A criteria for the instability of aging
effect and deposition is proposed.
14

Acknowledgement

This work was financially supported by

ADNOC

15

Thank you

16

Aggregate Fluorescence

Model oil: C7+ Asph.+Toluene

Model oil + Heptane

The fluorescence is coming from both resins and dissolved asphaltenes.

By adding heptane to the mixture, asphaltenes start to aggregate and these
asphaltene aggregtaes are not fluorescent.
17

Emission Curve (excitation 410nm)

25000000

C5 to
7
C7+
Malten
e
Resin

20000000

15000000
Intensity (arb.)
10000000

5000000

0
350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

Wavelength (nm)

C7+ dilute 40x

Excitation
wavelength for

18

Emission Curve (excitation 488nm)

25000000

20000000

C5 to 7
C7+

15000000
Intensity (arb.)
10000000

Maltene
Resin

5000000

0
350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

Wavelength (nm)

C7+ dilute 40x

Excitation
wavelength for

19

Emission Curve (excitation 580nm)

9000000
8000000

C5 to 7

7000000

C7+

6000000

Maltene

5000000
Intensity (arb.)
4000000

Resin

3000000
2000000
1000000
0
350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

Wavelength (nm)

C7+ dilute 40x

20