Asphaltenes monitoring and control system

1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a system that monitors and controls the precipitation of asphaltenes in a formation fluid recovered from a subsurface formation or reservoir by using a sensor to make a direct real-time on-site measurement of the relative concentration asphalt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Gallagher, Christopher, Means, C. Mitch
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 22.10.2002
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Summary:1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a system that monitors and controls the precipitation of asphaltenes in a formation fluid recovered from a subsurface formation or reservoir by using a sensor to make a direct real-time on-site measurement of the relative concentration asphaltenes from at least one location at a wellsite or in a pipeline. In a system including a fiber optic attenuated total reflectance probe for sensing asphaltenes and using a processor to compare sequential measurements, the system of the present invention can trigger the addition of additives in response to a change in asphaltene concentration in the formation fluid, preventing precipitation.