Energy & Fuels, Vol.26, No.5, 2631-2640, 2012
Reversibility of Asphaltene Flocculation with Chemicals
Restabilization of asphaltenes after they precipitate out in the production systems can be of great industrial significance with respect to remediation. Here, we discuss the redispersion of asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon phase aided by treatment chemicals in the laboratory using the asphaltene dispersancy test (ADT), Turbiscan, and modified ADT method. Through extensive laboratory experiments on a suite of dead crude oils and treatment chemicals, redispersion and restabilization of asphaltenes was observed upon treatment with asphaltene treatment chemicals, even when the destabilized system comprising of untreated crude oil in heptane was allowed to age for extended periods. We infer that precipitated asphaltenes can be effectively restabilized by the treatment chemicals. This could have potential applicability in mitigating asphaltene challenges, specifically in topside crude oil production facilities.