Abstract: Thermal recovery of heavy oil is challenged by constantly declining recovery in the late stage. Solvent vapor extraction (VAPEX) is employed to improve the deasphalting process of heavy oil. A rectangular visual sand filling physical model is designed, with extra-heavy oil in Fengcheng oilfield as sample oil. A series of VAPEX tests are conducted by filling the designed model with actual reservoir core in the oilfield. Results are analyzed to assess the effects of solvent type, operating pressure and sand filling permeability on asphaltene precipitation from heavy oil samples. Under the same conditions, solvent extraction with propane produces better results than butane extraction. At the vapor pressure of propane, the effect of asphaltene precipitation is best while the recovery of solvent is largest, thereby reducing the cost via solvent recycling. At the pressure lower than vapor pressure of propane, the volume of solvent dissolved in oil is reduced, negatively affecting the deasphalting of heavy oil. At the same vapor pressure of propane, when the permeability is high of several hundreds of Darcy, asphaltene precipitation can reduce heavy oil viscosity and increase oil fluidity, thereby improving oil recovery rate; when the permeability is lower, asphaltene precipitation may cause partial plugging of pores and pose certain influence on oil fluidity, thereby reducing oil recovery rate.