Chemical Study of Asphaltene Inhibitors Effects on Asphaltene Precipitation of an Iranian Oil Field

Abstract

The study evaluates the effectiveness of commercial asphaltene inhibitors on crude oil from an Iranian field. Using two n-paraffin solvents (n-heptane, n-hexane) and FTIR spectroscopy, they determine Asphaltene Onset Point (AOP). Without inhibitors, AOP occurs at 35 vol.% n-heptane; with 3000 ppm of inhibitor B, AOP shifts to 60 vol.%. Efficiency depends on oil pH and inhibitor chemical structure.