A Review on Asphaltene Control in Oil Production

Asphaltenes deposition can lead to formation damage, decline in productivity, and decreasingefficiency of equipment. Asphaltene deposition is a frequent and costly problem in upstream oil andgas industry with severe economic repercussions. Deposition in the wellbore and near well borereservoir region and in the production-tubing causes restrictions that impact oil flow and productivity.Deposition may build leading to blockages and production shut-in necessitating intervention andremediation. Financial impacts of lost production and remediation increase manifold for offshore oilproduction. For example, for oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico, asphaltene deposition challenge mayincur $۷۰ million per well with the well shut-in and intervention [۱] Fouling at the surface-controlledsubsurface safety valve may escalate these costs to $۱۰۰ million. Production downtime alone at$۵۰/barrel for ۱۰,۰۰۰ bbl/day amount to $۰.۵ million per day. Oil industry expends significant effortsand resources in the risk assessment, monitoring and planning for management, control and mitigationstrategies for optimum resource utilization and profitability. Therefore, asphaltene risk assessment,monitoring and asphaltene management, control and mitigation strategies for optimum resourceutilization and profitability is an integral part of the field development strategy. Operators makedecisions for both preventative and remediation tactics for the project during the planning stage.Preventative approach during upstream operations may include either control of operating conditionsor chemical inhibitor applications or a combination of both. Remediation methods include mechanicalremoval or dissolution of the asphaltene deposits with asphaltene solvents and dispersants.