# US 2018/0024084 A1 · Method and system for stability determination of asphaltenes utilizing dielectric constant measurements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024084 A1 - Document ID: US20180024084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/656,757 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: The Texas A&M University System - Applicants: The Texas A&M University System - Inventors: Berna Hascakir; Abhishek Punase - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024084A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/22: by investigating capacitance - G01N 27/221: {by investigating the dielectric properties (using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26)} - G01N 33/2823: {Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method of determining asphaltene stability within a crude oil sample that includes obtaining a crude oil sample and performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample. The method further includes measuring, via a cylindrical capacitor, a dielectric constant of the crude oil sample and its fractions. Responsive to the measured dielectric constant, the stability of the asphaltenes within crude oil sample is determined. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining asphaltene stability within a crude oil sample, the method comprising: obtaining a crude oil sample; introducing the crude oil sample to an annulus formed in a cylindrical capacitor; applying, via a measuring device, an electrical voltage across the annulus and through the crude oil sample; measuring, via the measuring device, a dielectric constant of asphaltenes and desasphalted oil fractions of the crude oil sample; and responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining a stability of asphaltene fraction within crude oil sample. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising providing a signal responsive to a stability of the asphaltene fraction being below a minimum threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed in approximately one minute or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the stability of the asphaltene fraction comprises calculating a modified Lowry parameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the stability of the asphaltene fraction comprises calculating a modified Wu parameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample in order to obtain a volume fraction of asphaltenes and deasphalted oil present in the crude oil sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the determining the stability of the asphaltene fraction comprises calculating a colloidal stability index. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising determining, based on the stability of the asphaltene fraction, a probability of asphaltene precipitation. ### Claim 9 A method of determining asphaltene stability of a crude oil flow, the method comprising: placing a crude oil sample in an annulus formed in a cylindrical capacitor; performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample in order to obtain a volume fraction of asphaltenes and deasphalted oil present in the crude oil sample; determining a colloidal instability index of the crude oil sample; applying, via a measuring device, an electrical voltage across the annulus and through the crude oil sample; measuring, via the measuring device, a dielectric constant of the asphaltenes and the desasphalted oil fractions of the crude oil sample; responsive to the measured dielectric constant, determining a stability of asphaltene fraction within crude oil sample; and responsive to the determined asphaltene stability being below a minimum threshold, mitigating asphaltene instability in the crude oil flow. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the mitigating comprises at least one of modulating a temperature of the crude oil flow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the mitigating comprises modulating a pressure of the crude oil flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the mitigating comprises modulating a chemical composition of the crude oil flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising providing a signal responsive to a stability of the asphaltene fraction being below a minimum threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the determining the stability of the asphaltene fraction comprises calculating a modified Lowry parameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the determining the stability of the asphaltene fraction comprises calculating a modified Wu parameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising determining, based on the stability of the asphaltene fraction, a probability of asphaltene precipitation. ### Claim 17 A system for determining a dielectric constant of a crude oil sample, the system comprising: a cylindrical capacitor comprising: an inner cylinder; an outer cylinder; a base coupled to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder defining an annulus there between; a measuring device electrically coupled to the inner cylinder and to the outer cylinder, the measuring device applying an electrical voltage across the annulus; and wherein the measuring device measures a capacitance across the annulus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the outer cylinder is arranged generally coaxially with the inner cylinder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the base is formed of an electrically non-conductive material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are formed of a conductive material.