Effect of Aging on Deposit Characteristics Obtained by Crude Oil Blending

In this study, the characteristics of the precipitated material product of the blending of two crude oils are analyzed as a function of aging time. In general, the deposits are enriched in asphaltenes and waxes in comparison to the parent crude oils. They also contain a significant amount of maltenes. The results also indicate that the amount and composition of the deposit change as the deposit ages. A decrease in the amount of the deposit is observed at shorter times, but later, the deposit amount increases until it reaches a plateau at longer times. During aging, the deposit becomes more hydrogen deficient and richer in asphaltenes. Waxes in the deposit experience a decrease in concentration at shorter times but an increase at longer times. As the deposit ages, wax distributions shift to longer alkanes. These changes in wax concentrations and distributions are reflected in the wax appearance temperatures as well. Maltenes show the same temporal behavior as waxes as the deposit ages.