New application of henna extract as an asphaltene inhibitor: an experimental study

Taking preventive measures of asphaltene precipitation is of great significance in petroleum production and development. Therefore, a new chemical remediation was developed in the current study. The major objective of this experimental study is investigation of the effects of chemically extracted henna on the behaviour of asphaltene in the Bangestan crude oil during pressure decline due to asphaltene precipitation in the coreflood experiments. The application of henna leaf-derived inhibitor and their influences on the asphaltene precipitation in the oil wells have not yet been addressed in the literature. Coreflood test results illustrate that subjection of the crude oil to chemically extracted henna decreases the asphaltene precipitation which was obtained by IP143 method. Also, it was concluded that permeability reduction with Bangestan crude oil during coreflooding with henna extract in n-hexane is less than when it was flooded with pure n-hexane. The consequence of this investigation is the first break-in application of chemically extracted henna in oil industry. To this end, the results of the present work can assist us in the subsequent researches about the usage of chemically derived natural compounds for the aims of asphaltene precipitation prevention in underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. (C) 2016 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.