Patent ID: 8584513

Claim:
A method of comparing the asphaltene aggregation inhibited by a plurality of potential asphaltene deposition inhibitors in oilfield applications comprising the steps of: introducing an oil well fluid into a microfluidic/millifluidic system comprising a mixing well, a processing unit comprising a means for regulating the flow of fluids into the mixing well, and a viewing device; introducing a first fluid comprising a mixture of a first potential asphaltene deposition inhibitor and a carrier fluid into the microfluidic/millifluidic system such that the first fluid contacts the oil well fluid in the mixing well; introducing a second fluid comprising a precipitating agent into the microfluidic/millifluidic system such that the second fluid contacts the oil well fluid in the mixing well; and capturing images with the viewing device of asphaltene aggregation within a channel of the microfluidic/millifluidic system; and then introducing the oil well fluid, first fluid comprising a mixture of a second potential asphaltene deposition inhibitor and a carrier fluid, and the second fluid comprising the precipitating agent into the mixing well of the microfluidic/millifluidic system, and capturing images with the viewing device of asphaltene aggregation within the system; and comparing the asphaltene aggregation inhibited by the first and second asphaltene deposition inhibitors.