Review on asphaltene precipitation and deposition kinetics and CO2 interactions

Abstract

The precipitation and deposition of asphaltenes during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and flow assurance operations, creates a huge problem that impacts operational efficiency during crude oil production. The changing of operating parameters such as composition of the oil system, including the impact of kinetics during production can lead to asphaltene related challenges such as reduced reservoir permeability, increased oil viscosity, and plugged pipelines. Understanding the complexities of asphaltene precipitation and deposition in the presence of CO₂ and the complex kinetic behavior is key to mitigating the related problems of asphaltenes. In this review, an effort was made to examine all relevant articles concerning asphaltene precipitation during CO₂ interactions with oil and their kinetics, aiming to enhance our understanding of asphaltene behavior in crude or model oil systems. Additionally, the review discusses current remediation strategies used to address asphaltene-related issues, including several field cases. The insights obtained highlight the critical role of kinetics in monitoring asphaltene behavior including predicting asphaltene formation within production systems that involves the use of CO₂ to boost oil recovery. Consequently, short-term evaluations and model systems are not representative enough for accurately predicting asphaltene precipitation although common in open literature. With the increase in CO₂ EOR, accurate prediction of asphaltene precipitation is crucial for designing carbon dioxide flooding plans. This review brings together various viewpoints, providing industry stakeholders with a detailed understanding of the challenges linked to asphaltenes, especially in the context of promoting CO2 utilization for EOR. This insight underscores the necessity for precise research to develop effective prevention and treatment methods.