US 11,948,666 B2
Systems and processes for predicting asphaltene blend compatibility
Estrella Rogel, San Ramon, CA (US); Toni Miao, San Ramon, CA (US); Eddy Lee, San Ramon, CA (US); and Kyle Hench, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
Filed by CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/882,284.
Prior Publication US 2024/0047017 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 31/16 (2006.01); G01N 21/3577 (2014.01); G01N 21/359 (2014.01); G01N 33/28 (2006.01); G16C 20/30 (2019.01)
CPC G16C 20/30 (2019.02) [G01N 21/3577 (2013.01); G01N 21/359 (2013.01); G01N 31/16 (2013.01); G01N 33/2823 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of predicting a blend compatibility in a system between a first oil composition A and a second oil composition B, wherein the method comprises:
obtaining a correlation between near infrared spectroscopic information, asphaltene solubility parameter Ra, and maltene solubility parameter Po for a set of samples using multivariable analysis;
obtain a near infrared spectra on the first oil composition A and use the correlation to obtain the first oil composition A's Ra and Po;
obtain a near infrared spectra on the second oil composition B and use the correlation to obtain the second oil composition B's Ra and Po;
determine the Ra of the blend of the first oil composition A and the second oil composition B using the equation Ra(blend)=mA RaA+mB RaB and determine the Po of the blend of the first oil composition A and the second oil composition B using the equation Po(blend)=mA PoA+mB PoB, wherein mA, mB are the % mass of crude oils A and B, while PoA, RaA, PoB and RaB are the parameters of the crude oils A and B that form the blend;
predict the blend compatibility using the equation P=Po(blend)/Ra(blend) wherein a P≥1 indicates the blend is compatible.