LAUSR

Abstract Precipitation of asphaltenes in oil fields represents interfacial phenomena of great concern for oil industry. Oil production decreases due to the obstruction of reservoir rock pores by asphaltene blockage. Futhermore, the phenomena of wettability changes and water/oil (W/O) emulsions formation take place in the production processes of crude oil. Herein, the performance and evaluation of a developed product (F2) based on the formulation of an asphaltene inhibitor to overcome these problems is presented. Different systems to assess the product were prepared with crude oil, synthetic formation water and the inhibitor product itself. These components were mixture under certening conditions according to simulated reservoir conditions. Displacement tests using F2 product in three different core samples were carried out. The results of asphaltenes dispersions tests (ADT) indicate that the product has a 100% dispersion effect on the asphaltenes, with a colloidal stability for more than 2 h in the presence of an excess of heptane. The product performance to break up W/O emulsions is evaluated, through the preparation of model systems with synthetic water. Water resolution results indicate that resultant emulsions have low stability. In addition, the interaction (adsorption and adhesion) between crude oil and glass surface was evaluated. Crude oil shows strong adsorption on the glass surface even after water washing. While in the presence of the inhibitor product there is lower adsorption and adherence weakness of crude oil was observed on glass surface. The performance observed within the porous medium after the product been injected at reservoir conditions, shows that the product F2 mitigates formation damages responsible for asphaltene formation and deposition. Observed increments on fluid permeability values after injection of F2 to the crude oil are indication of a greater oil flow in the rock reservoir sample. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that F2 product is a suitable candidate to be evaluated into porous media, as chemical treatment in matrix non-reactive stimulation operations.