Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Faisal M Melibari

Sohel K Shaikh

Mohammed Abdulmajeed Al-Daous

Wei Xu

Miao Sun

Zhonglin Zhang

Ayman Amer

Vincent Cunningham

Ali Shehri

Remi Mahfouz

Hussain M Yami

Sohel K Saikh

Disclosed is a methodology for determination and prediction of heat exchanger fouling, such as polymer fouling in the circulation loop that forms part of the heat exchanger system. The buildup of a polymer or other undesired material deposit in the heat exchanger provides a distinctive temperature signature (thermal gradient) on the surface of the heat exchanger asset, which is visualized using a thermographic camera. Coupling images (thermograms) from the camera with a machine learning algorithm identifies fouling and, with knowledge of the historical data of the asset and operating and ambient conditions, enables prediction of future fouling. The thermal images provide several types, or orders, of temperature information that are indicative of locations vulnerable to fouling. In one case, the method uses machine learning applied to time-based temperature change/gradient information to detect hidden polymer fouling in areas that form part of the heat exchanger asset.

Heat exchanger fouling determination using thermography combined with machine learning methods

A process for selectively producing 1-butene comprises combining at least one antifouling agent and at least one aluminum alkyl compound to form an antifouling feed stream, wherein bringing the antifouling agent into contact with the aluminum alkyl compound forms at least one antifouling agent co-catalyst in a first step. The antifouling agent co-catalyst may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, an R2 group, and an R3 group. The process further comprises feeding the antifouling feed stream, a catalyst comprising at least one titanate compound, and ethylene into a reactor dimerize ethylene in a second step. The catalyst is fed as a stream separated from the antifouling feed stream. The feeds may be varied in real-time to adjust a ratio of the formed antifouling agent co-catalyst and residual aluminum alkyl compound or antifouling agent in the antifouling feed stream.

Inline process to make antifouling agent co-catalyst for ethylene oligomerization

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a reactor, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, introducing a heteropolyacid feed to the reactor, where the heteropolyacid feed comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the reactor at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a reaction time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, where a mixed product comprises the polymerized asphaltenes and a de-asphalted oil, introducing the mixed product to a separator at the end of the reaction time, and separating the mixed product in the separator to produce a de-asphalted oil and a waste stream, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed.

Non-solvent asphaltene removal from crude oil using solid heteropoly compounds

A method for producing mesophase pitch includes the steps of flushing a vessel with an at least substantially inert gas to remove air and oxygen from the vessel; charging the vessel with a hydrocarbon feed; pressurizing the vessel to an initial increased pressure; heating the vessel to a pre-determined temperature; and maintaining the vessel at the pre-determined temperature for an amount of time operable to upgrade the hydrocarbon feed to a product comprising mesophase pitch.

Integrated thermal processing for mesophase pitch production, asphaltene removal, and crude oil and residue upgrading

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Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

Faisal M Melibari