Experimental and modelling study on application of new class of asphaltene inhibitors for enhanced oil recovery purposes: Adsorption and wettability alteration

In this communication, a novel approach for combined Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and asphaltene inhibition is proposed employing a New Class of Asphaltene Inhibitor (NCAI). Following primary and secondary oil production, appropriate EOR techniques can increase oil recovery. Gas injection is commonly used, however there are risks associated with asphaltene precipitation and deposition which could result in flow assurance concerns in addition to changes in wettability. This work investigates the effect of a newly developed AI on the wettability of synthesized substrates. An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) technique is utilized for monitoring the wettability alterations of the substrates caused by NCAI. This research also presents adsorption equilibrium and kinetics data for the NCAI on sandstone rocks. Batch experiments are conducted at various temperatures (from 25 °C to 75 °C) to illustrate the adsorption behaviour of this new chemical compound on reservoir rock surfaces. Conductivity measurements are utilized to determine the amount of the chemical compound adsorbed on crushed sandstone rock surfaces. The adsorption results are examined by employing various adsorption isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Linear. The obtained experimental adsorption kinetic results are described and evaluated by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. It can be inferred from the results that higher NCAI concentrations results in higher adsorption of NCAI onto rock surfaces. These experimental and modelling investigations provide a new tool for understanding the usefulness of this NCAI as a surface active agent in chemical based EOR techniques, especially for integrated processes with asphaltene precipitation and deposition inhibition.