A New Approach to Simultaneously Enhancing Heavy Oil Recovery and Hindering Asphaltene Precipitation

A new chemical compound is developed at Petroleum University of Technology to enhance the recovery of the free imbibition process and simultaneously hinder asphaltene precipitation. The compound is tested on heavy oil samples from Marun oil field, Bangestan reservoir. The effects of the chemical compound on viscosity, hydrocarbon composition, and average molecular weight of the heavy oil are investigated. It is found that the substance dramatically reduces oil viscosity and molecular weight and hinders the precipitation of asphaltene in the heavy oil. The results of free imbibition tests demonstrate a significant recovery enhancement after oil reacts with the compound and is used in water in an Amott cell. Finally, the new chemical compound causes a significant reduction in surface tension and contact angle. This is verified by the molecular analysis of heavy oil after reacting with this ionic compound.