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.
Claims20
A method of determining the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid comprising:
- a) obtaining a sample of a fluid containing elemental sulfur;
- b) adding a caustic solution to said sample and reacting said caustic solution with said elemental sulfur to yield reaction products, wherein the reaction products are colored;
- c) comparing the absorbance of the reaction products with the absorbance of a series of standard solutions of known elemental sulfur concentration prepared using the same method in step b);
- and,
- d) determining the concentration of said elemental sulfur in said sample based on said absorbance comparison in step c).
A test kit for determining the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid, said test kit comprising a storage container comprising:
- a) a first container containing a solution having a known amount of a caustic chemical;
- 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 amount of elemental sulfur;
- and
- e) a set of instructions for using said caustic, said hydrocarbon solvent, said alcohol, and said elemental sulfur to determine the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid.
A test kit for determining the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid, said test kit comprising a storage container comprising:
- a) a first container containing a caustic solution having a known amount of a caustic chemical and 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 elemental sulfur to determine the amount of elemental sulfur in a fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.