News & Events
- January 11-15, 2009 PETROTECH 2009, New Delhi, India
- December 23, 2008 PVTsim 18 released
- July 15th, 2008 Flowasta 1.0 released
Asphaltene
To meet the challenges of asphaltene modeling Calsep has implemented the PC-SAFT model as a state-of-the-art equation of state. The PC-SAFT model is not available in PVTsim yet, but Calsep consultants already use it in asphaltene consulting work. With this tool, Calsep confidently undertakes asphaltene studies predicting the asphaltene onset pressures, the amount of asphaltene precipitated and evaluates the influence of injection gases as well as other compositional effects.
Examples of Asphaltene Studies
- Gas injection in reservoirs can result in asphaltene precipitation. Calsep provides screening studies investigating the effect of different injection gases, such as natural gas or CO2, on the asphaltene potential. With such studies at hand preventive measures can be taken.
- Spatial variations of the fluid composition in reservoirs affect the local asphaltene potential. Calsep can uncover at which positions in the reservoir asphaltene precipitation is likely to occur.
- Gas lift employment increases the risk of asphaltene precipitation. Calsep can provide studies that anticipate this risk and allow the operator to circumvent potential problems.
Asphaltene Model
In 2005 Calsep initiated a Joint Industry Project to enhance the understanding of asphaltene modeling. One key achievement so far has been the implementation of the PC-SAFT (Perturbed Chain Statistical Association Fluid Theory) model. This model has proved to be more accurate for asphaltene simulations than the cubic equations of state commonly used.
