SPE 69531
A Field Methodology to Estimate the Zone of Maximum Probability of Asphaltene
Precipitation Occurrence
C. Avila, A. Russo, E. Flores, and O. Hidalgo. PDVSA Exploración y Producción, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.
Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum
Engineering Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 25–28 March 2001.
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Abstract
Asphaltenes precipitation is one of the major operational
problems affecting oil production in the Northern Monagas
fields of Eastern Venezuela. Being a phenomena that depends
primarily on crude composition, pressure and temperature, it
may occur inside the pore space, downhole along the
producing strings, at the well head, inside flow lines,
separators and gas treatment plants. In most cases, the cleaning
of pipes and production strings is done through chemical
treatment. For downhole treatment, coiled tubing or snubbing
units have to be used, thus increasing production costs.
A field methodology based in the influence of pressure in
asphaltenes precipitation has been designed and implemented
to estimate the zone of maximum probability of asphaltenes
precipitation. Nodal analysis is applied to determine pressure
versus depth behavior at the well for different operational
conditions. Gross composition chemical analysis and
asphaltenes dispersion curves of the crude oils are required.
Knowing the saturation pressure and the flocculation onset
pressure, the methodology allows the determination of the
most probable range of depths at which asphaltenes
precipitation will occur.
The purpose of this methodology is to determine the optimum
operational conditions that maximize production at minimum
risk of asphaltenes precipitation, as well as to select the better
preventive measure for each particular case, thus maintaining
overall control of the asphaltenes plugging problem.
In this work, field applications of the methodology are shown.
Depending on the depth range of asphaltenes precipitation
occurrence, reperforation of the producing interval, hydraulic
fracturing or chemical treatment is recommended. Application
of the methodology is becoming routine in the Northern
Monagas fields. An expert system based on the methodology is
under development to extend its application throughout the
area
Introduction
In Venezuela, the asphaltene precipitation problem has come
happening from years ago, so much in the oriental basin as in
the lake of Maracaibo basin. In the Oriental basin the problem
has occurred in many fields being the most important the North
of Monagas fields. The North of Monagas fields are located In
Eastern Venezuela and comprise The Furrial, Carito, Musipan
and Santa Barbara reservoirs. In those reservoirs the asphaltene
problems have had a negative effect in the economy of
petroleum production and processing because they increase
operational costs related with well jobs and shut in wells in the
order of 1MM$/year. For that reason, starting with the
knowledge of asphaltene nature and principals causes of their
deposition acquired from previous studies realized for Intevep,
we developed a fast, accurate and easy to use field
methodology to estimate the zone of maximum probability of
asphaltene precipitation occurrence based in the influence of
pressure on asphaltene precipitation. The application of the
methodology requires principally the knowledge of the crude
oil composition, and bubble point pressure which can be
obtained from experimental PVT analyses or from correlations
developed for the field in study. In the same way it is
mandatory to know the nodal analysis of each particular well
in the study field with the purpose of obtaining the pressure Vs
depth profile and to estimate the depth at which the
asphaltene precipitation is more probable. The methodology
also requires the estimation of a range of pressure where the
probability of asphaltene precipitation occurrence is maximum,
this range of pressure can be estimated statistically based in the
plugging history of each well of the field and then calculating
an average pressure range for the whole field.
SPE 69531 C. AVILA AND A. RUSSO
Methodology
Some investigations suggest that asphaltene precipitation can
be caused by electrocinetic effects, however the flocculation
onset presence indicates the mainly thermodynamic nature of
them. That means that the asphaltene flocculation is originated
mainly due to changes in pressure, temperature and
composition. Based on that affirmation and in the knowledge
of temperature does not have a significant effect in asphaltene
precipitation in North of Monagas crude oils, we developed a
fast, reliable and easy to use methodology based in the
influence of pressure in the asphaltene precipitation to
determine the zone of maximun probability of asphaltene
precipitation occurrence .
The developed methodology consists of the following steps:
1. Detailed Characterization of the reservoir fluids.
The first step, to determine the possibility of asphaltene
precipitation, is to execute a detailed characterization of the
reservoir fluids to know the composition of the oil and to
define the parameters that promote the asphaltene
precipitation. Among those parameters are: the proportion of
each fraction of the crude oil, this is, the percentages of
saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, resins and
asphaltenes presented in the crude oil Fig.3 represents the
results obtained by Intevep related to the influence of the
percentages of the several fractions of the oil (saturated,
aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) in the stability or unstability
of 30 Venezuelan oil samples analyzed As it is observed in
Fig. 3, oils with high content of saturated hydrocarbons, few
resins and aromatic hydrocarbons will have greater probability
of asphaltene precipitation than oils with little amount of
saturated hydrocarbons. The determination of the percentages
of saturated, aromatic, resins and asphaltenes present in the
crude oils analyzed have been made and continues to be made
in Venezuela by Intevep, however, in the field laboratory of
PDVSA the determination of the content of asphaltenes are
carried out as a measure of control of the precipitation.
2. Pressure and Temperature Behavior
The methodology presented considered the knowledge of
asphaltene behavior with pressure, for that reason it is
important to carry out analysis of the crude oil in study to
determine its dispersion curve. The dispersion curves obtained
for the North Monagas oils have almost all the same shape and
show the expected results. It is observed that the deposition of
asphaltene for effect of a decrease in pressure at constant
temperature passed through a point of maximum deposition
near the bubble point (500 psi above and below the bubble
point). (Fig. No 1).
Related to the temperarure Intevep executed several tests
including the generation of dispersion curves of the same
crude oil at different temperatures and it is observed that even
when an increment of temperature slightly favor the
precipitation of asphaltenes, it can be said that the variation of
temperature between 300 oF and 100 oF doesn't affect the
levels of asphaltene deposition significantly for the same
precipitant agent . (Fig No 2)
2
3. Determination of the Pressure Profile.
The next mandatory step for the diagnosis of asphaltenes
precipitation is the determination of the pressure profile
occurring in the production system, with the purpose of setting
the depth at which the bubble point pressure is reached and the
depth of maximum probability of precipitation of asphaltenes.
The determination of the pressure profile is normally carried
out by using commercial software of nodal analysis which
permits to simulate the profile of pressure for different chokes
in order to select the choke that allows to displace the zone of
maximum occurrence of precipitation to a point nearest to the
well surface.
4. Onset of flocculation and Zone of Maximum Probability of
Asphaltne Precipitation.
The following step in the application of the methodology is the
determination of flocculation onset or the moment at which the
conditions for the beginning of the asphaltene flocculation
occurs, in Venezuela this kind of analysis is also performed by
Intevep or any analysis services company.
The field experience, as for the occurrence of plugging in the
production system in wells of a specific field and for a specific
type of oil, allows to determine statistically a zone of
maximum probability of precipitation of asphaltenes located
around the bubble point pressure. To obtain that zone is
necessary to know the depth at witch each asphaltene plugging
has occurred for each well of the field and for the
corresponding type of choke. Afterwards, entering in the
pressure Vs depth profile curves generated from nodal
analysis it is obtained the pressure corresponding to each
plugging depth. Once obtained all the plugging pressures, the
arithmetic media is calculated and the zone of maximum
probability of asphaltene precipitation is defined
4. Analysis of the Information Obtained
Once defined that the crude oil is unstable form the gross
composition of the crude oil, generated the dispersion curve,
determined the flocculation onset, known the saturation
pressure, obtained the pressure Vs depth profiles and
calculated the zone of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation statistically the final step in order to analyze the
information obtained is to transfer the crude oil
characterization results to the pressure Vs depth profile
generated for particular production conditions. In that way,
draw over the pressure Vs depth curve horizontal lines to mark
the flocculation onset, the bubble point pressure, the range of
maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation pressure, and
the lower flocculation limit obtained from the dispersion
curve, so that we can determine the range of depth at witch the
maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation is reached.
Figure 4 illustrates the behavior of pressure with depth for an
example well of a determined field of North of Monagas. The
curves indicates the wellhead pressure, the flowing bottom
hole pressure and the reservoir pressure. Also in Fig. 5 the
pressure at which the onset of flocculation is reached are
shown with a solid line, the bubble point pressure and the
minimum pressure at which the asphaltene precipitation
occurs for that particular well (This value is obtained from the
 A FIELD METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE THE ZONE OF MAXIMUM PROBABILITY
3 OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION OCCURRENCE
dispersion curve). Equally a zone of maximum precipitation of
asphaltene is located in the proximities of the bubble point
pressure. This type of diagram is of great utility because it
provides a fast, reliable and easy to obtain knowledge of the
place where the asphaltene deposits will be located. However,
it is important to mentioned that this kind of diagram shows an
approximated behavior since it does not consider the influence
of the temperature in the precipitation of the asphaltenes
because this methodology was generated for the North of
Monagas crude oils and as was mentioned before laboratory
analyses for North of Monagas crude oils indicating that the
precipitation of asphaltenes is little influenced by the effects of
temperature when the temperature is between 100 oF and 300
o
F for a same precipitant agent.
5. Productivity Analysis.
Due to the presented methodology is based in the pressure Vs
Depth behavior of each well obtained from nodal analysis, it
permits to analyze all the possible production scenarios for
each well and determine the depth at which is maximum the
probability of asphaltene precipitation for each set of
operational conditions ( tubing size, choke diameter, flow line
diameter, separation level), letting to select the conditions that
places the zone of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation near the wellhead so that make easier the
asphaltene prevention. In addition from nodal analysis it is
possible to generate the inflow and outflow curves for each
condition for each well permitting to select the operational
condition that maximize productivity at minimum risk of
asphaltene precipitation as well.
Summary
The methodology here presented allow to determine in a fast
reliable and easy way a range of depth at witch asphaltene
precipitation is most probable. Additionally it permits to select
the operational condition that maximize productivity at
minimum risk of asphaltene precipitation. The methodology
can be resumed as follow:
1.- Characterize the crude-oil and determine the bubble point
pressure throughout the analysis of PVT or throughout
correlations obtained from the surrounding wells.
2.- Determine the pressure profile in the production tubing
from nodal analysis.
3.- Determine statistically from the plugging frequency of the
field, the zone of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation.
4.- Using pressure profile, flocculation onset and bubble point
pressure, determine the depth of maximum probability of
asphaltene precipitation.
5.- Carry out sensibilities for different sizes of chokes. It
would be convenient to install a choke that allows the wellhead
pressure to be the same or greater than the bubble pressure. In
this way the asphaltene precipitation problem will be
transferred to the wellhead and /or to the flowline allowing
lower operational costs and easy to handle. In the event that the
choke can not allow the wellhead pressure to be the same or
higher as the bubble pressure the following steps should be
taken:
SPE 69531
1.- Design and install a dispersant injection system at the
bottom of the well and /or at the wellhead
2.- Design and carry out injection of asphaltene dispersants
into the formation . This action will complement actions taken
on point 1 of the point 1. to prevent the asphaltene
precipitation into the reservoir.
Field Application
The methodology previously described is being applied on
almost all fields of North of Monagas with very good results.
In this paper is presented the evaluation performed in the oil
field Santa Barbara. The measures taken to prevent and to
correct the asphaltene precipitation and some of the results
obtained from the application of those measures are also given
For the application of the above methodology in Santa
Barbara field a global analysis of the field as well as the
behavior of the production history for each well firstly was
done. From the point of view of prevention, an analysis of
pressure behavior versus depth to each well was carried out. To
perform that analysis the following steps were followed:
- Pressure profiles charts for choke diameters from ¼" to
¾," were obtained using a commercial nodal analysis
software then pressure profile versus depth charts were
elaborated.
- Analyses performed in the laboratory determined the
pressure at which the flocculation onset is reached as
well as the minimum pressure at which the asphaltene
flocculation is possible.
- From PVT data the bubble point pressure for all the wells
were obtained.
- The range of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation was obtained for Santa Barbara field from
analysis performed in the laboratory and from field
experience.
- The obstruction frequency was determined for each well
from the production histories, wellhead pressure and
plugging histories.
- Histories of hydraulic fracture treatments, chemical and
mechanical cleanings were evaluated to determine how
frequent a particular job for each well is to be required.
- In each case an analysis of the behavior of asphaltene
precipitation based on the pressure profiles and on the
influence of pressures in the asphaltene precipitation was
done. To do so the bubble point pressure, the onset of
flocculation and the lower pressure at which the
probability of asphaltene precipitation is minimum were
graphed versus depth. In this way, the zone of maximum
probability of asphaltene precipitation was established.
For the specific case of Santa Barbara field, the onset of
flocculation was obtained in the laboratory and resulted to be
7900 pi. The zone of maximum precipitation of asphaltenes
was experimentally defined for this field. This zone turned out
to be 500 psi above and 500 psi below the bubble point
pressure. However based on the real asphaltene plugging
frequency of the field and in the place of occurrence of that
pluggings a wider zone of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation was obtained. This zone resulted to be 1700 psi
SPE 69531 C. AVILA AND A. RUSSO 4

above the bubble pressure and 1560 psi below the bubble
pressure.
Fig. 5 shows the pressure Vs depth profile for different chokes
as well as the analysis of the probability of asphaltene
precipitation for the well SBC-100 in the Santa Barbara field.
Actually that well is producing 4000 BPD with a choke of
32/64”. As we observe in the figure, the flocculation onset,
7900 psi, the bubble point pressure,5700 psi, and the zone of
maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation (between
7000 and 16000 feet )are marked with horizontal lines. All that
information indicates that the zone of maximum probability of
asphaltene precipitation is between 7000 feet and the
perforations for the actual producing condition. For that reason
the choke in this well has to be changed to a choke of 24/64”
to move the zone of maximum probability of asphaltene
precipitation between 4000 and 13000 feet and try to control
the asphaltene problem with downhole chemical injection.
However the inflow/outflow curves for this well (Fig. 7),
indicate that with a choke of 24/64” the oil production decrease
to 2900 BPD which is to low considering the productive
capacity of the well. For that reason in this well, we
recommended hydraulic fracture treatment for the formation in
order to diminish the pressure differential at the face of the
sand, move upward the pressure profile and reach the zone of
maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation near the
wellhead permitting to control the asphaltene problem with
downhole chemical injection.
Conclusion
The methodology presented in this work permits to determine
a zone of maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation
occurrence in a fast reliable and easy way additionally that
permits to select the operational conditions that maximize
productivity in each well at minimum risk of asphaltene
precipitation.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank PDVSA Exploration and
Production, Venezuela, for permission to publish this paper.
References
1. Ali, J., Betancourt, J., Avila, C.: “A Methodology for Asphaltene
Control in Production Facilities in North Monagas, Venezuela,”
SPE Paper 56572,1999.
2. Gil, C., Borges, A., Véliz, D., Key, E.: “Precipitación de
Asfaltenos Durante la Explotación de Yacimientos en Venezuela,”
Informe Tecnico, Intevep, S.A. 1993.
3. Rivas, O.: “Desarrollo de una Metodología sistemática para el
Control de la Precipitación de Asfaltenos,” Visión Tecnológica.
Vol 2 N° 2,Intevep S.A, Venezuela, 1993.
4. Allen, T.O., Roberts, A. P. : “Production Operations,” Vol 1 ,
July, 1993.
5. Illanes.J, “Técnicas de Cañoneo,” Curso de Ingenieria de
Producción.Primer Módulo.Tema 4, Corpoven S.A., 1991.
6. Bermudez, A.,Guarique, J.: “Determinacion de la Influencia de la
Temperatura y la Viscosidad sobre la Precipitación de Asfaltenos
en pozos productores de hidrocarburos en el Campo Santa
Barbara”, Trabajo de Grado, Universidad de Oriente, Puerto la
Cruz, Venezuela, September, 2000.
7. Hirschberg. A, et al “Influence of Temperature and Pressure on
Asphaltene Flocculation.” SPEJ:24(3)283-293,1984.
SI Metric Conversion Factors
ft x 3.048 E-01 =m
ft3 x 2.831685 E-02 =m3
bbl x 0.15899 E+00=m3
psi x 6.894757 E+00=Kpa
in x 2.54 E+00 =cm
lbf x 4.448222 E+00 =N

Nomenclature
°F= Degree Fahrenheit
ft= feet
°API= API gravity
Pwh= Well head pressure
Psi= Pounds per square inch.
 A FIELD METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE THE ZONE OF MAXIMUM PROBABILITY
5 OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION OCCURRENCE SPE 69531

Flocculation

Asphaltenes in the
Liquid Phase

Maximun Point of Flocculation

Pb

Fig. 1- Effect of Pressure in Asphaltene Precipitation

Asphaltenes Dispersed in the Liquid Phase Asphaltenes Dispersed in the liquid P hase vs
vs P ressure P ressure
o o
MU C-25 200 F, n-c7 MU C-25 297 F, n-c7
0.5
0.5
0.45
0.45
0.4
Pressure
0.4
Aspha lte ne s Dispe rse d
Aspha lte ne s Dispe rse d

0.35
0.35
0.3
0.3
0.25 0.25

0.2 0.2

0.15 0.15

0.1 0.1

0.05 0.05

0 0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Pre ssure ,psia
Pre ssure , psia

Fig. 2- Effect of Temperature in Asphaltene Precipitation

SPE 69531 C. AVILA AND A. RUSSO 6

C o m p o sitio n Effe ct

Uns tables Stables

100
A s p h alte n e s

80
Re s in s
A r o m atics
60
%W /W

40

Satu r ate d
20

0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Oils

Fig. 3-Composition Effect. Proportion Among Saturated, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes
and Their Effect on the Stability of Several Crude Oils.

DIAGRAM OF PRESSURE VS DEPTH

7500

6500 RP
Pressure (psi)

5500

4500
Pwf
3500

2500

1500
Pwh
500
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Depth(M ft)

Fig.4 .- Pressure versus Depth Behavior

 A FIELD METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE THE ZONE OF MAXIMUM PROBABILITY
7 OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION OCCURRENCE SPE 69531

DIAGRAM OF PRESSURE VS DEPTH.

ASPHALTENE ANALYSIS

7500
Onset of Floculatión Liquid
6500 RP
Pressure (psi)

5500
Liquid-Solid
4500
Pwf
3500
Bubble Pressure
2500
Maximum Probability Precipitation
1500
Gas-Liquid-Solid
Lower Limit of Floculation
500 Gas-Liquid
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Depth(M ft)

Fig.5 .- Pressure versus Depth Behavior. Asphaltene Analysis

PRESSURE VS. DEPTH BEHAVIOR. ASPHALTENE ANALYSIS

SBC-100

9000

8500 FLOCCULATION ONSET

8000

7500

7000 ZONE OF MAXIMUM PROBABILITY OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION

6500

6000 SATURATION PRESSURE

5500

5000 CHOKE 24
Reduc
CHOKE 28
Reduc
4500
Reduc
CHOKE 32
4000 Reduc
CHOKE 40
CHOKE 48
Reduc
3500
CHOKE 64
Reduc
3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000
DEPTH ( FEET)

Fig.6 .- Pressure versus Depth Behavior. Asphaltene Analysis. Sbc-100