Flow Assurance Technical Section

-How can you determine if the deposition is actually asphaltene?
-How can you reduce the deposition? 
-Where is the best treatment point for such a problem. 

Hi Charles, asphaltene is paramagnetic whereas wax, scale, etc, are not. We have a device that measures the paramagnetism of any fluid (or solid) so it can instantly tell you how much asphaltene you have in the line. By monitoring that value in real-time you can tell whether treatment options are working (many don't). Some solutions might be counter-intuitive (e.g. increase the corrosion inhibitor and decrease the asphaltene inhibitor) but the only real way know what is working is with real-time measurement. 

Please drop me a note at john.lovell@microsiliconinc.com... I'm not exactly sure how quickly we can get to Lekki, but for sure you could mail us a sample and we can tell you what is in it....

Thank you very much for your response and apologies for my delayed response. First time getting active here. 

However, I can not forward any samples to Lagos at the moment.

Original Message:
Sent: 04-19-2023 12:12 AM
From: John Lovell
Subject: Possible remedies for Asphaltene Deposition in flow lines during refining

Hi Charles, asphaltene is paramagnetic whereas wax, scale, etc, are not. We have a device that measures the paramagnetism of any fluid (or solid) so it can instantly tell you how much asphaltene you have in the line. By monitoring that value in real-time you can tell whether treatment options are working (many don't). Some solutions might be counter-intuitive (e.g. increase the corrosion inhibitor and decrease the asphaltene inhibitor) but the only real way know what is working is with real-time measurement. 

Please drop me a note at john.lovell@microsiliconinc.com... I'm not exactly sure how quickly we can get to Lekki, but for sure you could mail us a sample and we can tell you what is in it....

Dear Charles, 
As far I understood the question, my suggestions would be following point wise.

To determine if the deposition is actually asphaltene, laboratory analysis can be done using techniques such as infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy.

To reduce the deposition of asphaltene, various methods can be used  such as:

1. Changing the operating conditions of the pipeline, such as temperature and pressure.

2. Adding chemical inhibitors to the crude oil to prevent the formation of asphaltene deposits during production.

3. Regular cleaning and maintenance of pipelines and equipment.

The best treatment point for such a problem would depend on the location and severity of the deposition. In general, treatment points could include the wellbore, production tubing, flowlines, and separators. A thorough analysis of the problem and consideration of the most effective treatment method would be necessary to determine the best treatment point.

------------------------------
Amjad Saeed Yazdanie
Consultant Business upstream
AVANT Gulf Consulting WLL
Engineering & Energy

Yazdanie@avantengineering.com
18324178656
------------------------------

Thanks a lot Amjad. 

Exactly what I needed. However, the site/location for the deposition in midstream process facilities like bottom strainers and lines.

Original Message:
Sent: 04-19-2023 02:28 AM
From: Amjad Yazdanie
Subject: Possible remedies for Asphaltene Deposition in flow lines during refining

Dear Charles, 
As far I understood the question, my suggestions would be following point wise.

To determine if the deposition is actually asphaltene, laboratory analysis can be done using techniques such as infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy.

To reduce the deposition of asphaltene, various methods can be used  such as:

1. Changing the operating conditions of the pipeline, such as temperature and pressure.

2. Adding chemical inhibitors to the crude oil to prevent the formation of asphaltene deposits during production.

3. Regular cleaning and maintenance of pipelines and equipment.

The best treatment point for such a problem would depend on the location and severity of the deposition. In general, treatment points could include the wellbore, production tubing, flowlines, and separators. A thorough analysis of the problem and consideration of the most effective treatment method would be necessary to determine the best treatment point.

------------------------------
Amjad Saeed Yazdanie
Consultant Business upstream
AVANT Gulf Consulting WLL
Engineering & Energy

Yazdanie@avantengineering.com
18324178656
------------------------------

Asphaltene is an interesting problem as many causes exist depending on where the problem occurs. First, it's most likely caused by changes in crude oil composition brought on by pressure fluctuations or by a fluid introduced which destabilized the asphaltene. To answer your inquiries, we must first confirm if the substance being deposited is asphaltene alone or in a mixture with other organics. The second step is to identify the alterations that are apparent or that have recently been made in order to ascertain what causes the instability or asphaltene precipitation. Thirdly, consider using dispersants to reduce aggregate sizes before searching for a long-term solution to stop precipitation (inhibitor injection). Lastly, if the cause is identified, the inhibitor is injected upstream of the point precipitation occurs.

I am open to having a discussion about this. Feel free to reach out.

Isah Mohammed
(isah.mohammed@ymail.com or +2347037203652)

<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>

Thanks a lot Isa for your response. 

Currently working on what was further discussed. 

Original Message:
Sent: 04-20-2023 01:53 AM
From: Isah Mohammed
Subject: Possible remedies for Asphaltene Deposition in flow lines during refining

Asphaltene is an interesting problem as many causes exist depending on where the problem occurs. First, it's most likely caused by changes in crude oil composition brought on by pressure fluctuations or by a fluid introduced which destabilized the asphaltene. To answer your inquiries, we must first confirm if the substance being deposited is asphaltene alone or in a mixture with other organics. The second step is to identify the alterations that are apparent or that have recently been made in order to ascertain what causes the instability or asphaltene precipitation. Thirdly, consider using dispersants to reduce aggregate sizes before searching for a long-term solution to stop precipitation (inhibitor injection). Lastly, if the cause is identified, the inhibitor is injected upstream of the point precipitation occurs.

I am open to having a discussion about this. Feel free to reach out.

Isah Mohammed
(isah.mohammed@ymail.com or +2347037203652)

To tell if you will have asphaltene I usually model the scenario with Multiflash software. Also if you are not have pressure decline and you are not injecting then you may not need to worry about asphaltene deposition.

------------------------------
Idongesit F. Oduok, MEng, MNSE, MSPE. Whatsapp: +2347037263653. oduok259@gmail.com. Nigeria. PhD student, Chemical Engineering (Flow Assurance)
------------------------------

Uwagwu Charles, Idongesit Oduok , this looks to be an old post? But my two cents:

- How can you determine if the deposition is actually asphaltene?
- How can you reduce the deposition? 
- Where is the best treatment point for such a problem. 

The easiest way to distinguish asphaltene from brown waxy resins, or other junk, is to measure the paramagnetism of the sample. If it's paramagnetic, it's asphaltene and the number of spins (in milliVolts) is proportional to the mass of the asphaltene in the sample.

With regard reducing the deposition, I'm biased, but I reckon you cant reduce something that you can't measure. So step one is to have a continuous measurement of the asphaltene percentage.

With regard "treatment point" it really depends on your treatment solution, weekly cuts with a paraffin knife? Bimonthly soaks? Reservoir Management? Etc.

Regards, John

------------------------------
John Lovell
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2024 08:10 PM
From: Idongesit Oduok
Subject: Possible remedies for Asphaltene Deposition in flow lines during refining

To tell if you will have asphaltene I usually model the scenario with Multiflash software. Also if you are not have pressure decline and you are not injecting then you may not need to worry about asphaltene deposition.

------------------------------
Idongesit F. Oduok, MEng, MNSE, MSPE. Whatsapp: +2347037263653. oduok259@gmail.com. Nigeria. PhD student, Chemical Engineering (Flow Assurance)
------------------------------