Method for computing and comparing digital signatures of hydrocarbons

A method for verifying whether properties of a second sample of a hydrocarbon product are same as or similar to properties of a first sample, comprising:

• generating a first absorption spectra of a first sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry;
• deconvoluting the first absorption spectra into principle components to create a first digital signature, wherein the first sample is taken from hydrocarbon product at a source of the fluid infrastructure and the second sample is taken from a hydrocarbon product at a transfer point in a fluid infrastructure, and wherein the first digital signature is expressed in a form of principle components derived from a spectra, and each principle component is orthogonal to a preceding principle component;
• generating a second absorption spectra of a second sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry;
• deconvoluting the second absorption spectra into principle components to create a second digital signature;
• comparing the second digital signature with the first digital signature to verify whether the properties of the second sample are same or similar to the properties of the first sample.

A method for verifying whether properties of a second sample of a hydrocarbon product are same as or similar to properties of a first sample, comprising:

• generating a first absorption spectra of a first sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry;
• deconvoluting the first absorption spectra into principle components to create a first digital signature, wherein the first sample is taken from hydrocarbon product at a source of the fluid infrastructure and the second sample is taken from a hydrocarbon product at a transfer point in a fluid infrastructure, and wherein the first digital signature is expressed in a form of principle components derived from a spectra, and each principle component is orthogonal to a preceding principle component and the principle components are plotted against one another to visually express unique attributes of the spectra;
• generating a second absorption spectra of a second sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry;
• deconvoluting the second absorption spectra into principle components to create a second digital signature;
• comparing the second digital signature with the first digital signature to verify whether the properties of the second sample are same or similar to the properties of the first sample.