THE EFFECT OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION ON CARBONATE-ROCK PERMEABILITY- AN EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL APPROACH

A series of experiments was carried out to determine the effect of asp haltene precipitation on the intrinsic permeability of carbonate rocks . Experiments indicated the existence of three different flow regimes, namely monotonous steady state, quasisteady state, and continuous plu gging. The numerical model helped identify mechanisms involved in thes e flow regimes. The existence of a continuous plugging regime at a hig h flow rate is of particular concern in the petroleum industry because of increased probability of plugging near the wellbore. The numerical model couples the surface excess theory for adsorption with the mecha nical entrapment theory. The mathematical model accurately predicts pe rmeability damage from mechanical lapping and adsorption. The model pr edictions agree favorably with experimental results for different flow rates.