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Application of the PC-SAFT Equation of State to Asphaltene Phase Behavior

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Asphaltenes, Heavy Oils, and Petroleomics

Abstract

A method to characterize crude oil including asphaltenes using the perturbed chain form of the statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) is presented. The theory accurately predicts the bubble point, density, and asphaltene precipitation onset for the oil. Examples showthat the theory predicts asphaltene instability due to changes in pressure, temperature, and fluid composition. Further work demonstrates the effect of asphaltene polydispersity and resins on the phase behavior of asphaltenes. The approach demonstrates that laboratory and field observations of asphaltene phase behavior can be explained based only on molecular size and van der Waals interactions.

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Authors
  1. P. David Ting
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  2. Doris L. Gonzalez
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  3. George J. Hirasaki
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  4. Walter G. Chapman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Schlumberger-Doll Research, 36 Old Quarry Road Ridgefield, Connecticut, 06877, United States

    Oliver C. Mullins

  2. Vanton Research Laboratory, Inc., 7 Olde Creek Place, Lafayette, California, 94549, United States

    Eric Y. Sheu

  3. Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Edmonton, Alberta, T6N 1M9, Canada

    Ahmed Hammami

  4. Chemistry and Biochemistry, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL, 32310-4005, United States

    Alan G. Marshall

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Ting, P.D., Gonzalez, D.L., Hirasaki, G.J., Chapman, W.G. (2007). Application of the PC-SAFT Equation of State to Asphaltene Phase Behavior. In: Mullins, O.C., Sheu, E.Y., Hammami, A., Marshall, A.G. (eds) Asphaltenes, Heavy Oils, and Petroleomics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-68903-6_12

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