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Original Articles

Morphology and Size Distribution Characterization of Precipitated Asphaltene from Live Oil During Pressure Depletion

, , &
Pages 363-368
Received 07 Mar 2014
Accepted 29 Mar 2014
Accepted author version posted online: 07 Apr 2014
Published online:15 Oct 2014
 

The size and morphology of asphaltene aggregates, precipitated from live oil by pressure depletion at the reservoir temperature was studied using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The experimental studies showed that the mean size of aggregates increased when pressure decreased. The results indicate that the morphology of aggregates was changed from amorphous spherical and elliptical shapes to irregular. A bimodal distribution function was able to describe the size distribution in pressure range of 500 to 3500 psi. At higher pressure, the unimodel was able to represent the size distribution. The results showed reduction in live oil stability and asphaltene aggregation with pressure drop.

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