Low sulfur fuel oil blends for paraffinic resid stability and associated methods

A method for creating a stable asphaltene containing residuum based marine fuel oil blend, the method comprising:

• determining a first selection of one or more of an asphaltene containing residuum with an aromaticity of less than about 50% the first selection to thereby define one of a plurality of blend components;
• determining a second selection of one or more of a high aromatic distillate, a hydrocarbon fraction, or a cracked stock with an aromaticity of greater than about 50%, the second selection, thereby to define one of the plurality of blend components;
• determining a sequence of addition for each one of a plurality of blend components into a blend tank to prevent asphaltene precipitation;
• adding each one of the plurality of blend components to the blend tank at a specified time based on the sequence of addition until each of the one of the plurality of blend components have been added to the blend tank;
• mixing each added blend component in the blend tank for a specified period of time prior to addition of a next one of the plurality blend components, each added blended component, thereby to define a stable asphaltene containing residuum based marine fuel oil blend.

A method to provide a resid based fuel via blending for marine fuel oil applications, the method comprising:

• providing one or more fuel blend components to one or more tanks;
• determining, via a controller and based on signals from a corresponding sensor, one or more characteristics of the one or more fuel blend components;
• determining, via the controller, a combination of the one or more fuel blend components, based on the one or more characteristics, to meet a fuel blend specification;
• determining, via the controller, a sequence of addition for the combination of the one or more fuel blend components such that an aromaticity of each successive addition comprises an aromaticity of about 20% by weight of aromaticity of a prior addition or a mixture of prior additions;
• transferring the one or more fuel blend components in the sequence of addition to a blend tank via a corresponding pipeline and one or more of a corresponding pump or corresponding valve, the corresponding pump and corresponding valve operated by the controller;
• mixing, after each addition of the one or more fuel blend components, the added fuel blend components for a specified length of time, thereby to provide a marine fuel oil.

A system for blending a residuum containing marine fuel oil, the system comprising:

• a source of one or more blend components, at least one of one or more blend components including residuum;
• one or more storage tanks, each of the one or more storage tanks including:
• an inlet configured to receive the blend components, and
• an outlet connected to and in fluid communication with a blend tank;
• the blend tank configured to mix the blend components including:
• an inlet configured to receive one or more blend components from each one of the one or more storage tanks, and
• an outlet connected to and in fluid communication with a pipeline for discharge;
• a controller configured to:
• receive signals indicating a position of one or more valves associated with the one or more storage tanks and the blend tank, and
• transmit signals to adjust the position of one or more of (a) the one or more valves associated with the one or more storage tanks and (b) the one or more valves associated with the blend tank according to a sequence of addition of the blend components to produce a blended fuel based on an international marine organization (IMO) fuel specification;
• and
• a discharge pipeline configured to receive the blended fuel and in fluid communication with one or more of (i) a tank, (ii) a vehicle for shipment, or (iii) a pipeline.