Patent · US Active

Systems and methods for evaluating asphaltene deposition inhibitors

US8584513B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by

4References

14Claims

0Family size

Assignee

RHODIA OPERATIONS · FR

Inventors

Lawrence Alan Hough · Philadelphia, US
Jean-Christophe Castaing · Sèvres, FR
Gary Woodward · Kidderminster, GB
Ruela Talingting Pabalan · Burlington, US
Floryan De Campo · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 24, 2011
Grant date	Nov 19, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 2, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB01L3/5027
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of determining the effectiveness of an asphaltene deposition inhibitor in oilfield applications. Such methods typically comprising the steps of introducing an oil well fluid into a microfluidic/millifluidic system; introducing a mixture of an asphaltene deposition inhibitor and carrier into the microfluidic/millifluidic system; introducing a precipitating agent, typically comprising heptane, into the microfluidic/millifluidic system; and optionally introducing toluene into the microfluidic/millifluidic system; then observing the presence or absence of asphaltene aggregation within the microfluidic/millifluidic system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.