
doi: 10.1021/ef3017392
Asphaltenes are a solubility class of petroleum crude oil that can destabilize and deposit in both upstream and downstream processes. In this study, asphaltene deposits were generated in metal capillaries by heptane addition to crude oils, and it was found that deposition is caused by submicrometer asphaltene aggregates. Deposits were generated at heptane concentrations above and significantly below the instantaneous onset point. Analysis of the results reveals that the governing factor controlling the magnitude of asphaltene deposition is the concentration of insoluble asphaltenes present in a crude oil-precipitant mixture and the instantaneous onset point is irrelevant to the deposition process. Electron microscopy images of the deposits represent the first images and confirmation of arterial growth in laboratory generated asphaltene deposits. The axial deposit profile was found to be highly nonuniform. In addition, deposits formed shortly after when oil and heptane mix, revealing that the destabilizati...
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 167 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |
