Asphaltene precipitation frequently occurs in oil wells within the Tuoputai area of the Tarim Basin, significantly hindering production efficiency. In addition to external factors, such as temperature and pressure, the effects of geological factors on asphaltene precipitation warrant further investigation. Base on previous studies, this article examines the geological controls on asphaltene precipitation by analyzing the spatial distribution of precipitation wells, the physical properties and group composition characteristics of crude oils, and their charging histories. The results show that wells experiencing asphaltene precipitation are mainly distributed near NNE‐trending main and secondary faults, where rapid variations in oil physical properties are observed. The faults act as vertical migration and charging pathways that facilitate the mixing of crude oils within the reservoir. The content of resin and asphaltene in the crude oils from the asphaltene precipitation wells was low, the instability coefficient (CⅡ) was high, and the stability of the crude oils system is unstable. In the vicinity of the faults, the crude oils charged during the late Hercynian and Himalayan periods, with obvious differences in physical properties and maturity, were mixed in the reservoir, and the mixing effect was obvious, and the stability of the crude oils system was damaged, which may be an important factor affecting the occurrence of asphaltene precipitation. The findings of this study provide critical insights into the mechanisms of asphaltene precipitation and have important implications for the efficient production and reservoir management.
Zhao et al. (Thu,) studied this question.