Modified Screening Criteria of Potential Asphaltene Precipitation in Oil Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract In this article, the De Boer method, the most widely used screening criteria for potential asphalt precipitation, is modified by specifying separate plots for each reservoir. The solubility parameter, which is the most important parameter in this method, is calculated by using the concept of refractive index. Accuracy of the predictions was confirmed by the colloidal instability index, asphaltene–resin ratio, and asphaltene instability trend techniques. Finally, the applicability of this approach was checked using six real cases of Iranian reservoirs. These cases were chosen to include oils with different API gravity, asphaltene content, and extremities (severe to no problem).