# US 2019/0170641 A1 · Method for computing and comparing digital signatures of hydrocarbons > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170641 A1 - Document ID: US20190170641A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/210,979 - Filed: 2018-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: JP3 Measurement, LLC - Applicants: JP3 Measurement, LLC - Inventors: Joseph Paul Little, III; Matthew Thomas; Gregg Williams; James Stephen Dixson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170641A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/359: using near infrared light - G01N 33/2823: {Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures} - G01N 21/3504: for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis - G01N 21/3577: for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water - G01N 2201/1293: resolving multicomponent spectra - 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 system and method for encapsulating commercially significant attributes of a hydrocarbon product into a single digital signature are presented. The digital signature may be generated from a physical product sample using optical techniques such as NIR spectroscopy. Digital signatures may be expressed in the form of composition, principle components derived from the spectra, or other properties derived from the original spectra which characterize, and help visualize, the variation present within the signals. Other physical property measurements and contaminant measurements may also be included in the digital signature and may be derived from the same measurement device or separate measurement devices whose output is integrated into a single digital signature. Embodiments of the invention may be used to confirm the identity of a hydrocarbon product, or to verify the composition of a hydrocarbon product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product, comprising: generating a first absorption spectra of a first sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry; deconvoluting the first absorption spectra into its principle components to create a first digital signature; generating a second absorption spectra of a second sample of a hydrocarbon product using near infrared spectrometry; deconvoluting the second absorption spectra into its 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 the same or similar to the properties of the first sample. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is expressed in the form of principle components derived from the spectra. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is expressed in the form of principle components derived from the spectra, and the principle components are eigenvalues showing changes within the absorption spectra. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is expressed in the form of principle components derived from the spectra, and each principle component is orthogonal to the preceding principle component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is expressed in the form of principle components derived from the spectra, and each principle component is orthogonal to the preceding principle component and the components are plotted against one another to visually express the unique attributes of the spectra. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is expressed in the form of composition, wherein the composition is C1-C30+ components. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is derived from more than one measurement device whose output is integrated into a single digital signature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is derived from more than one measurement device whose output is integrated into a single digital signature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a basic sediment and water value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a basic sediment and water value of the second sample. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a carbon dioxide value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a carbon dioxide value of the second sample. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a hydrogen sulfide value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a hydrogen sulfide value of the second sample. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a total acid number value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a total acid number value of the second sample. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a total sulfur value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a total sulfur value of the second sample. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from an API gravity value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from an API gravity value of the second sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a micro carbon value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a micro carbon value of the second sample. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a viscosity value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a viscosity value of the second sample. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a metal composition value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a metal composition value of the second sample. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a metal composition value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a metal composition value of the second sample. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a true boiling point value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a true boiling point value of the second sample. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first digital signature is also derived from a vapor pressure value of the first sample, and the second digital signature is also derived from a vapor pressure value of the second sample. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the first sample is taken from a hydrocarbon product at a well head and the second sample is taken from a hydrocarbon product at a transfer point in a fluid infrastructure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the second digital signature is also compared with the first digital signature in a blockchain or other distributed ledger environment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the second digital signature is also compared with the first digital signature to verify chain of custody. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the second digital signature is also compared with the first digital signature to verify compliance of the second sample of a hydrocarbon product with contractual requirements. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the digital signatures are used in a data as a service platform to provide real-time visualization of hydrocarbon product data. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The method for verifying the composition of a hydrocarbon product of claim 1, wherein the absorption spectra are generated by a swept source spectrometer taken at a resolution of up to 0.1 nm with a scan range between 1250 nm and 2100 nm.