Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Chevron Oronite Company LLC

Estrella Rogel

Cesar Ovalles

Michael Moir

John A Segerstrom

Kyle Matthew Hench

Dennis John O'Rear

Curtis Bay Campbell

Curt B Campbell

Gunther Hans Dieckmann

Donald Kuehne

Toni Zhang Miao

Pak C Leung

Thomas Michael Rea

Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani

Varut Komalarajun

Vasudevan Sampath

Eddy Lee

Christopher J Wilson

Ian Phillip Benson

Paul E Hajdu

Kaustav Chaudhuri

David A Dahlin

Ronald A Behrens

Nan Chen

The present invention is directed to a method for the prediction of coke morphology from feed characteristics using cross-polarized light optical microscopy, image segmentation, and statistical analysis.

Coke morphology by image segmentation

The present disclosure advantageously refers to systems and methods for predicting an oil mixture's blend compatibility without mixing the components and/or without performing direct blend testing. The techniques described use a correlation between near infrared spectroscopic information, asphaltene solubility parameter Ra, and maltene solubility parameter Po to accurately predict blend compatibility using the equation P=Po(blend)/Ra(blend). A P≥1 indicates the blend is compatible. These techniques are useful in, for example, refineries to predict and therefore reduce or eliminate fouling due to asphaltene deposits.

Systems and processes for predicting asphaltene blend compatibility

Low sulfur marine fuel compositions and methods for making the same are provided. The compositions exhibit a sulfur content of at most 0.50 wt. %, a solvent power of at least 0.30, and a P-value of at least 1.15.

Production of stable fuel oils

In-situ upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons includes injecting into a reservoir solvent, an asphaltene precipitant additive and optionally steam, at a ratio of solvent to heavy hydrocarbon between 0.1:1 and 20:1 under reservoir conditions. The additive has C&#x2014;H, C&#x2014;C and/or C&#x2014;O bonds that thermally crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase after injection. Formed downhole are a blend containing an upgraded hydrocarbon, and precipitated asphaltenes. The upgraded hydrocarbon is produced such that the precipitated asphaltenes remain in the reservoir. The upgraded hydrocarbon has a greater API gravity, lower asphaltene content, and lower viscosity than the heavy hydrocarbon. The precipitated asphaltenes are present in a higher amount than a similar blend not containing the additive. A method for selecting the additive includes identifying candidate additives having bonds that crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase at the operating temperature, and calculating percent increase of asphaltenes precipitated for each.

Method of selection of asphaltene precipitant additives and process for subsurface upgrading therewith

A method includes analyzing a carbonaceous deposit for an asphaltene content from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid located in a well, a wellhead or a production line proximate the wellhead, and applying one or more preventative measures to the hydrocarbon-containing fluid located in the well, the wellhead or the production line proximate the wellhead based on the asphaltene content.

Low volume in-line filtration methods for analyzing hydrocarbon-containing fluid to evaluate asphaltene content and behavior during production operations

Disclosed herein is a method for determining the effectiveness of one or more asphaltene dispersant additives for inhibiting or preventing asphaltene precipitation in a hydrocarbon-containing material subjected to elevated temperature and pressure conditions.

Method for determining the effectiveness of asphaltene dispersant additives for inhibiting or preventing asphaltene precipitation in a hydrocarbon-containing material subjected to elevated temperature and presssure conditions

Disclosed herein is a method of predicting sediment content of a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon product. The method involves: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; (d) determining asphaltene content of the liquid sample from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the liquid sample from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; and (f) correlating the asphaltene content and one of the asphaltene stability parameters of the liquid sample with at least two operation conditions associated with a refinery to predict sediment content.

Method for predicting sediment content of a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon product

Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents and capturing the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more low volume filters comprising a porous filter element comprising an area through which a fluid may flow; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.

Low volume in-line filtration method for evaluation of asphaltenes for hydrocarbon-containing feedstock

A process for in-situ upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon includes positioning a well in a reservoir containing a heavy hydrocarbon having an initial API gravity no greater than about 20, an n-heptane asphaltene content at least about 1 wt. %, and a viscosity at 35&#xb0; C. greater than about 350 centistokes; injecting hydrocarbon solvent(s) and asphaltene precipitant additive(s) into the well at a ratio by volume of the solvent to the heavy hydrocarbon of about 0.1:1 to about 20:1 under reservoir conditions so as to provide an upgraded hydrocarbon in the reservoir having an improved API gravity, a reduced asphaltene content, and a lower viscosity; and producing the upgraded hydrocarbon from the well. The process of the present invention can be also carried out at higher temperatures such as by injecting steam with the one or more hydrocarbon solvents and the one or more asphaltene precipitant additives into the well.

Process for in situ upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon using asphaltene precipitant additives

Disclosed is a liquid crude hydrocarbon composition containing (a) a liquid crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to about 20; and (b) a minor amount of a blend comprising (i) one or more hydrocarbon-containing solvents having an aromatic content of at least about 10 wt. %; and (ii) one or more asphaltene modifiers selected from the group consisting of an aromatic sulfonic acid or salt thereof, an aliphatic sulfonic acid or salt thereof and an alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic carboxylic acid or salt thereof. Also disclosed is a method for transporting a liquid crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to about 20.

Liquid crude hydrocarbon composition

Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of polyaromatic compounds from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated polyaromatic compounds therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated polyaromatic compounds; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated polyaromatic compounds; and (d) correlating a measurement of catalyst activity performance for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated polyaromatic compounds to predict catalyst performance of a catalyst in a refinery operation of the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock.

Method for predicting catalyst performance

A method and system for handling viscous liquid crude hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method involves (a) solvent deasphalting at least a portion of an asphaltene-containing liquid crude hydrocarbon feedstock to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction essentially free of asphaltenes; (b) adjusting the density of the asphaltene fraction to substantially the same density of a carrier for the asphaltene fraction; (c) forming coated asphaltene particles from the asphaltene fraction of step (b); (d) slurrying the coated asphaltene particles with the carrier; and (e) transporting the slurry to a treatment facility or a transportation carrier.

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Orinda, CA, United States of America

Estrella Rogel