Theoretical and practical approach to the selection of asphaltene dispersing agents

To evaluate the interaction forces between asphaltenes and amphiphilic comp ounds influencing the colloid stability of crude oils during the production , transport and processing, the cohesion energy parameters according to Han sen are used. Calculating the cohesion energy parameters of different homol ogous series, it was found that a stabilising effect can be expected if the dispersion interactions of amphiphilic compounds correspond with that of a sphaltenes and the hydrogen bonds are in the region of 10 [MJ m(-3)](0.5). Flocculation point determination and thermogravimetric analysis were used t o verify this experimentally. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.