Experimental and modeling study of asphaltene adsorption onto the reservoir rocks

In this work, amount of asphaltene adsorption onto the carbonate and sandstone rock samples was investigated at various initial concentrations of asphaltene in oil. Asphaltene adsorption onto both types of the reservoir rocks was increased by increasing the initial concentration of asphaltene. The amount of asphaltene adsorption onto the rock samples was predicted using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The results showed that Langmuir model had a better accuracy for prediction of asphaltene adsorption onto the rock samples than Freundlich model. Furthermore, asphaltene adsorption onto the reservoir rocks was studied in the presence of a recently developed asphaltene inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly reduced asphaltene adsorption at any initial concatenation of asphaltene. Moreover, changes in the rock permeability due to asphaltene precipitation were determined in the presence and absence of the asphaltene inhibitor.