Scientists have been trying to predict the potential for asphaltene precipitation since the early 1800s. What they have collectively determined is that asphaltene is present in most crudes. The principal questions for researchers today are whether or not asphaltene will precipitate, and, if it does, whether it will adhere to production tubulars. Seeking a practical answer to the reliable prediction of asphaltene precipitation and adhesion, Shell Exploration & Production Company and Schlumberger worked to modify the Schlumberger RealView test apparatus to simulate real-world flow conditions for live crude oil in a deposition cell, so scalable results could be reasonably extrapolated to field conditions.