Method for determining asphaltene stability of a hydrocarbon-containing material
US8367425B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/25875
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.