Predicting Solvent Power of Light

Abstract

A method for recalculating the solvent power of a light oil, SP(LO recalculated), is provided. The method comprises: titrating the light oil against a reference oil, optionally in the presence of a titrant, to determine a volume fraction of the light oil at the onset of asphaltene precipitation, V(onset fraction LO), a volume fraction of the reference oil at the onset of asphaltene precipitation, V(onset fraction RO), and, where a titrant is present, a volume fraction of the titrant at the onset of asphaltene precipitation, V(onset fraction T), and determining the recalculated solvent power of the light oil, SP(LO recalculated), according to the following formula: SP ( LO   recalculated ) = ( CSP ( RO ) - SP ( RO ) * V ( onset   fraction   RO ) - x * SP ( T ) * V ( onset   fraction   T ) ) V ( onset   fraction   LO ) wherein: CSP(RO) is the critical solvent power of the reference oil, SP(RO) is the solvent power of the reference oil, SP(T) is the solvent power of the titrant, and x is 1 where a titrant is present, and otherwise is 0. The recalculated solvent power may be used in methods for preventing asphaltene precipitation during processing of crude oils in a refinery.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.