Most conventional oil fields around the world are maturing, leading to increasingly challenging production problems. One common issue operators encounter is asphaltene precipitation and deposition on production tubulars, which can severely restrict oil flow and hinder well economics.

After many unsuccessful treatment attempts, an operator in southern Mexico needed to overcome asphaltene-related problems in a naturally fractured carbonate reservoir. A screening test and pressure-temperature flowing survey revealed that asphaltene deposition occurred when reservoir pressure dropped below a critical level.