Elemental sulfur analysis in fluids
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsJay Locklear, Clinton Crowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Robust methods for quantitating the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid whereby a caustic solution is mixed with the fluid, and the elemental sulfur present in the fluid reacts to form a colored solution that can be compared to a series of standards. The methods can be performed in a laboratory or the field and allow for real time feedback. Once the concentration of the elemental sulfur is known, appropriate methods of treatment can proceed. Test kits for performing the methods in the field are also described.
Claims10
An elemental sulfur test kit comprising a storage container comprising:
- a) a first container containing a solution having a known amount of a caustic chemical comprising tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;
- b) a second container containing a known amount of a hydrocarbon solvent;
- c) a third container containing a known amount of an alcohol;
- d) a fourth container containing a known concentration of elemental sulfur;
- and
- e) a set of instructions for mixing said caustic chemical, said hydrocarbon solvent, said alcohol, and a fluid selected from the group consisting of gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, condensates, black oils, solid hydrocarbons solubilized in liquid hydrocarbons, produced water, and combinations thereof, and using said known concentration of elemental sulfur to determine an amount of elemental sulfur in said fluid.
An elemental sulfur test kit comprising a storage container comprising:
- a) a first container containing a caustic solution having a known amount of a caustic chemical comprising tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in a known amount of an alcohol;
- b) a second container containing a known amount of a hydrocarbon solvent;
- c) a third container containing a known amount of elemental sulfur;
- and
- d) a set of instructions for using said caustic solution, said hydrocarbon solvent, and said known amount of elemental sulfur to determine an amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid, said fluid selected from the group consisting of gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, condensates, black oils, solid hydrocarbons solubilized in liquid hydrocarbons, produced water, and combinations thereof.
An elemental sulfur test kit comprising a storage container comprising:
- a) a first container containing a caustic solution, said caustic solution comprising tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, a C1-C4 alcohol and a hydrocarbon solvent;
- b) a second container containing a known amount of elemental sulfur;
- and
- c) a set of instructions for using said caustic solution and said known amount of elemental sulfur to determine an amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid, said fluid selected from the group consisting of gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, condensates, black oils, solid hydrocarbons solubilized in liquid hydrocarbons, produced water, and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.