Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Hughes Holdings LLC

Giuseppe Della Sala

Marco Respini

Corina Sandu

Gavin Mark Medine

Sai Reddy Pinappu

A method is provided for determining the solubility parameters for a process stream via the joint use of turbidimetric detection of asphaltenes flocculation, which is used to determine and detect the onset flocculation of asphaltenes of the process stream, and a refractive index to determine the process stream solubility parameters such as the solubility blending number and insolubility number.

Method of determining the stability reserve and solubility parameters of a process stream containing asphaltenes by joint use of turbidimetric method and refractive index

A settling rate of at least one foulant in oil-based fluids may be determining a settling rate of an oil-based fluid by stirring the fluid during a turbidimetric flocculation titration, which includes solvent dosing and obtaining transmittance measurements of the oil-based fluid. The method may further include stopping the solvent dosing at the onset of flocculation of the foulant(s), stopping the stirring when at least two or more transmittance measurements are substantially similar, and measuring the transmittance of the oil-based fluid to determine a settling rate of the foulant(s). The settling rate may be proportional to an increase in transmittance or decrease in absorbance after the stirring has stopped.

Method for determining a settling rate of at least one foulant in oil-based fluids

The stability of an oil-based fluid crude oil fluid may be determined by measuring a first RI value of the crude oil that does not comprise a solvent where the first RI value is used to determine a first solubility parameter therefrom. A second RI value may be taken from the crude oil at a point of asphaltene flocculation during a turbidimetric flocculation titration. The second RI value may be used to determine a second solubility parameter. A process for refining the crude oil may be controlled by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process based on a ratio of the first solubility parameter to the second solubility parameter.

Methods of determining crude oil stability

A process for refining crude oil can be controlled to mitigate fouling by deploying a refractive index probe at a location suitable for making a crude oil stability determination, wherein the crude oil stability determination is relevant to controlling the refining process; making a measurement of crude oil stability; and then controlling the process for refining crude oil by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process, based upon the determination of crude oil stability. This concept can also be applied to transporting, blending, and storing crude oil.

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Liverpool, United Kingdom

Giuseppe Della Sala