It is commonly modelled as a colloid, with asphaltenes as the dispersed phase and maltenes as the continuous phase.
ɪɾ ɪz kˈɑːmənli mˈɑːdəld æz ɐ kˈɑːlɔɪd, wɪð ˈæsfɐltˌiːnz æz ðə dɪspˈɜːst fˈeɪz ænd mˈɔltiːnz æz ðə kəntˈɪnjuːəs fˈeɪz.