Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Investigation of asphaltene-induced Formation Damage and its Removal using digital Core Analysis

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November 23, 2021 | Webinar

Alireza Jorkesh

Research Institute, Shiraz University, Iran

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Pet Environ Biotechnol

Abstract:

We investigated asphaltene deposition and removal using toluene, as a common IOR solvent, and their effects on petrophysical parameters of a sandpack sample using the novel micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) method. A series of experiments was defined in three stages. After each step, the sample was imaged using CT and micro-CT scanners. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of asphaltene deposition and removal on the evolution of physical properties such as porosity, permeability, and formation factor and the relations between the changes in rock porosity and morphology such as the Euler number and the evolution of single-phase transport properties. Coreflood experiments were performed on the sandpack to cause asphaltene deposition and then asphaltene removal using toluene in pre-determined flow rate and a confining pressure of 750 psi at ambient temperature. 3D micro-Ct images were taken at a voltage of 90 kV, a current of 65 μA with a scan time of 5 h, and a resolution of 37 μm. The acquired images were processed using ImageJ, Avizo, and MATLAB software. Next, we simulated single-phase transport properties (permeability and formation factor) by the poreFoam software using the finite-volume and the solution of Laplace equation methods. The results indicated a good agreement between the image-based and the lab-based calculated parameters. It was also found that the significant decrease in pore connectivity resulted in a considerable permeability reduction in the second stage of the experiments. The results of the third stage represented increase in porosity, permeability, and pore connectivity.

Biography :

Alireza Jorkesh has completed his M.sc at the age of 27 years from Shiraz University School of Petroleum. He is the director of XXXX, a premier Bio-Soft service organization. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. (Up to 100 words).