Remediation of asphaltene-induced plugging of wellbores and production lines
A method of treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation comprising: providing an asphaltene solvent, wherein the asphaltene solvent comprises at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide and introducing the asphaltene solvent into the wellbore.
1. A method of treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation comprising:
providing an asphaltene solvent, wherein the asphaltene solvent comprises at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide;
introducing the asphaltene solvent into the wellbore, wherein the wellbore contains one or more asphaltene deposits; and
contacting the asphaltene solvent with one or more asphaltene deposits in the wellbore.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more asphaltene deposits comprise asphaltene accretions or sludges on a surface of the wellbore.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asphaltene solvent dissolves the one or more asphaltene deposits.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asphaltene solvent is first contact miscible with oil in or from the subterranean formation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asphaltene solvent consists essentially of dimethyl sulfide.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asphaltene solvent further comprises up to 25 mol % decant oil.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing oil from the subterranean formation simultaneously with introducing the asphaltene solvent into the wellbore.
8. A method of treating a production flow line from a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation comprising:
providing an asphaltene solvent, the asphaltene solvent comprising at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide;
introducing the asphaltene solvent into the production flow line, wherein the production flow line contains one or more asphaltene deposits; and
contacting the asphaltene solvent with one or more of the asphaltene deposits in the production flow line.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more asphaltene deposits comprise asphaltene accretions or sludges on a surface of the production flow line.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the asphaltene solvent dissolves the one or more asphaltene deposits.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the asphaltene solvent is first contact miscible with oil in or from the subterranean formation.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the asphaltene solvent consists essentially of dimethyl sulfide.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the asphaltene solvent further comprises up to 25 mol % decant oil.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising producing oil from the subterranean formation simultaneously with introducing the asphaltene solvent into the production flow line.
15. A system for remediating asphaltene deposition comprising:
an asphaltene solvent comprising at least 75 mol % dimethyl sulfide, which asphaltene solvent is first contact miscible with oil in or from the subterranean formation;
an asphaltene solvent storage facility containing at least a portion of the asphaltene solvent; and
a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation, wherein the asphaltene solvent storage facility is operatively fluidly coupled to the wellbore or a production flow line from the wellbore.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the system is structured and arranged to produce oil from the formation and the asphaltene solvent from the wellbore or production flow line.