An Investigation of the Effects of Charged Polyacrylamide Injection on Asphaltene Deposition in Porous Media

This study has investigated the effects of three different polar polyacrylamides (anionic, cationic, and nonionic) on asphaltene deposition in porous media. All experiments were carried out in various dead oil flow rates (0.2, 0.1 and 0.02 cc/min) and different polymer concentrations (500, 2500, 4000 ppm). Results indicated that asphaltene precipitation was affected by the presence of polar additives such as charged polyacrylamide. In general, anionic polyacrylamide increased the asphaltene deposition. The amount of deposition was directly proportional to the increasing concentration of anionic polyacrylamide. Anionic polyacrylamide with the concentrations of 2500 and 4000ppm behaved as a promoter while the hydrophilic property of nonionic polyacrylamide acted as an inhibitor of the precipitation. Stabilization of asphaltene deposition was disturbed in the presence of cationic polyacrylamide. Moreover, the electrostatic and acid-based mechanisms showed a retarding effect. The flow rate is another parameter, which is taken into account besides other factors.