| This research proposes an approach to simulate numerically the asphaltenes precipitation effect of the VAPEX process. The model built for the VAPEX process, which uses a commercial thermal reservoir simulation software package, was validated using published experimental data. The effect of the apparent dispersion coefficient on the performance was investigated. In addition, the model was used to design a physical experiment, which contains the main phenomena of the VAPEX process. The purpose of the physical experiment was to investigate the impact of asphaltenes precipitation on porous fluid flow under reservoir permeability conditions. On the basis of the results obtained in this study, it is concluded that the numerical model can reproduce the process very well. Moreover, it was found that, because of the significant viscosity reduction, no significant blockage of flow through the porous medium was observed. |
