asphaltenes | Oilfield Glossary
asphaltenes. 1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery] Organic materials consisting of aromatic and naphthenic ring compounds containing nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen molecules. The asphaltene fraction of crude is defined as the organic part of the oil that is not soluble in straight-chain solvents such as pentane or heptane. Asphaltenes exist as a colloidal ...