Abstract: Method of predicting paraffin deposition risks during hydrocarbon production and/or transport, applicable at an early reservoir characterization and production stage. It comprises forming a database characterizing the hydrocarbons in the formation, including density data acquired by well logging and data obtained by analysis of rock samples taken from the reservoir formation, an analytical representation of the hydrocarbons by a limited number of pseudo-components comprising each certain hydrocarbon classes with a definition of their respective mass fractions and application of data of said base to a thermodynamic model for determining one or more parameters indicative of the crystallization conditions such as, for example, the starting crystallization temperature, the solid fraction that precipitates when the temperatures falls below this starting crystallization temperature, etc. Applications: hydrocarbon production field valuation.

Abstract: Method of predicting paraffin deposition risks during hydrocarbon production and/or transport, applicable at an early reservoir characterization and production stage.

Abstract: An ebulliometric device measures with high precision a physical parameter of a liquid substance. It includes an ebulliometer having an elongate vessel into which a liquid substance is fed, a sensor for measuring the boiling-point temperature arranged in the upper part of the vessel, a pump allowing to spray substance in the form of liquid and vapor in the upper part of the vessel, and an assembly external to the vessel for condensing the vapor allowing to recycle the condensed vapor to the base of the vessel and at least one thermostat-controlled enclosure.

Abstract: A thermodynamic model is formed which allows determination of the temperature at which waxes or paraffins appear in petroleum fluids, and notably in crudes, as well as the solid fraction that precipitates when the temperature of the petroleum fluid falls below this critical value. A differentiation is established between n-paraffins, iso-paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics. The model utilizes an analytical representation of the fluids by pseudo-components, the physico-chemical parameters of most of them being determined by combination of the corresponding parameters of a certain number of pure hydrocarbons gathered in a database. The model takes account of the non-ideality of the solid, liquid, and gas phases. Two of the pseudo-constituents including the heaviest fractions are represented by two ficticious molecules, each being defined by a molar distribution among various groups which constitute them, and a group contribution method is used to calculate the thermodynamic properties thereof.

Abstract: Process and device intended for ultrafiltration of particles contained in fluids. The fluids are passed through at least one filtering barrier made from a source rock with micropores below a few hundred Angstroms in diameter. These rock samples are available in good supply for example when drilling through reservoirs containing hydrocarbons. The filtering device comprises a housing (1) containing at least one thin disk (5) cut in a source rock, through which fluid is passed. This disk withstands high pressures and temperatures well, and it can be regenerated after use by means of a thermal process. The process and device can be applied for filtering of colloidal particles such as resins or asphaltenes in petroleum fluids for example.

Abstract: A system for measuring the solubility of various solid organic compounds in supercritical fluids such as methane or carbon dioxide for example, and for studying the equilibrium between the solid phase and the supercritical phase in a wide pressure and temperature range is disclosed. The system comprises four functional units E1, E2, E3, E4. Unit E1 delivers a supercritical fluid (methane, CO.sub.2, etc.), unit E2 comprises a sampling cell containing the compound to be solubilized, where the pressurized gas from unit E1 saturates on contact therewith, unit E3 is intended for sampling and bringing the sample into solution, and unit E4 is intended to receive the saturated fluid and to analyze it. The system allows dynamic solubilization to be performed with on-line or off-line analysis of the sample. The system can be applied for production of very pure compounds isolated from mixtures of heavy hydrocarbons for example or from alloys, or in the agribusiness for isolation of flavors.

Abstract: A mixture containing substances likely to settle or to flocculate is fed into a chamber (1a) of a body (1) delimited by a mobile piston (18) and a closed-circuit circulation of the mixture is established by means of a homogenization turbine (8) driven by a motor (28) associated with magnetic driving means (9, 26). According to the pressure and to the temperature, variations in the conductance of the mixture flowing between two electrodes (1, 16) connected to a measuring device (17) are measured on the one hand and variations in the driving torque applied to turbine (8) under the effect of the concomitant variations in the apparent viscosity of the mixture are measured on the other hand. The cell can be used to study of the conditions of formation of asphaltene deposits or flocculations in petroleum crudes for example.

Abstract: A rigid body comprising two cylindrical chambers (14, 15) with a pointed bottom for example, connected to each other by a fine line controlled by a valve V5, is fixed in a thermostat-controlled enclosure (7). Two rods (18, 17) forming pistons, provided with prestressed seals (J), can slide in these chambers, separately or coupled with one another. Their shape is suited to that of the bottom of the chambers. These rods are moved by shifting vertically hangers (12, 13) integral therewith, by means of threaded rods (8, 10) driven into rotation on demand by motors (ME1, ME2). A control unit comprising two optical display and locating blocks (19, 20) running right through the body near the bottom of the lower chamber (14), pressure, temperature and displacement detectors, under the control of a micro-computer, allows precise thermodynamic measurements to be achieved on substance samples at high pressure and temperature values. A gasometer is preferably placed in enclosure (7).

Abstract: A device for studying the behavior of a multiphase effluent in circulation includes a test pipe having two ends containing the effluent and a unit for delivering a working fluid alternately into each end of the pipe to effect movement of the effluent. The effluent to be studied which has been placed in the test pipe, is displaced according to an alternating circulation generated by injection of a working fluid into each of the ends of the pipe. A process for studying the behavior of the multiphase fluid in circulation involves placing the effluent in a test pipe, displacing the effluent in the test pipe in an alternating motion by delivering a working fluid alternately into each end of the pipe and measuring behavior of the effluent during the alternating displacement of the effluent.

Abstract: A method is provided for transporting in a duct a fluid comprising gas and water, and being under conditions where at least one hydrate is formed, the hydrates being formed from said gas and said water, wherein, before or during the formation of the hydrate or hydrates, an additive is injected into said fluid for reducing the tendency to agglomeration of the hydrate so as to obtain one or more hydrates in dispersed form, and said fluid is transported containing said hydrate or hydrates in dispersed form.