ASPHALTENE SIMULATION USING A PSEUDO-COMPONENT FRAMEWORK

Asphaltene simulation is performed by modeling asphaltene using physical changes. A pseudo-component framework is used to simulate asphaltene precipitation, asphaltene flocculation, and asphaltene deposition in a subsurface region. The pseudo-component framework for asphaltene simulation treats asphaltene precipitation, asphaltene flocculation, and asphaltene deposition as physical changes of a single component, rather than as chemical changes. Use of the pseudo-component framework for asphaltene simulation reduces complexity of asphaltene simulation. For example, use of the pseudo-component framework for asphaltene simulation enables tracking of asphaltene as it is found in different states (precipitated, flocculated, deposited). Use of the pseudo-component framework for asphaltene simulation enables chemical reactions to be replaced by a flash and adsorption framework. Asphaltene simulation using the pseudo-component framework exhibits stable and fast convergence.