The effect of the vapor dew point and matrix permeability on the movement of deposited streaks in the vapor extraction (VAPEX) process was investigated. Furthermore, the distribution of residual hydrocarbons, asphaltenes, resins, and metal chelate in the VAPEX cell was determined. Finally, the pattern of viscosity distribution in the VAPAX cell was calculated using a Computer Modelling Group (CMG) simulator. The experiments were conducted in sand packed on the Iranian bitumen by propane solvent. Asphaltene, resin, and vanadium chelate were measured in residual hydrocarbon of swept zone via American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6560 and D1548 test methods. The results demonstrated that in vapor dew point and high permeable matrices, precipitated streaks moved faster than other conditions. Distributions of asphaltene, resin, and vanadium chelate showed a reduction in their facial concentration from the vapor injection port to the oil production port, while the distribution of dissolved vanadium chelate in asphaltene and resin precipitated following a reverse pattern. Moreover, there was a good agreement between the Gillespie equation and experimental data, in which the colloidal volume fraction was divided into volume fractions of asphaltenes, resins, and metal chelates.
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