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 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 concentration 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 selected from the group consisting of gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, condensates, black oils, solid hydrocarbons solubilized in liquid hydrocarbons, produced water, and combinations thereof.
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, wherein said caustic solution is a chemical dissolved in an alcohol, said chemical selected from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide 30-hydrate, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, cesium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, lithium methoxide, sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide, lithium ethoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium ethoxide, lithium propoxide, sodium propoxide, or potassium propoxide;
- b) a second container containing a known amount of a hydrocarbon solvent;
- c) a series of containers, each containing a differing 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.
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 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 elemental sulfur to determine the 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.
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, said caustic solution being tetrabutylammonium hydroxide 30-hydrate and 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 elemental sulfur to determine the 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.