Controlling bitumen quality in solvent-assisted bitumen extraction

A method of controlling asphaltene content, inorganic solids content, and sulfur content in a hydrocarbon stream during a solvent-assisted bitumen extraction, comprising:

• measuring (i) an amount of nickel or vanadium, or both, in the hydrocarbon stream as an indication of asphaltene content, and optionally estimating an asphaltene content based on the amount of nickel or vanadium, or both;
• measuring (ii) an amount of at least one of Si, Al, Ti, Ca, Fe, Na, K, and Mg in the hydrocarbon stream as an indication of inorganic solids content, and optionally estimating an amount of inorganic solids based on the amount of the at least one of Si, Al, Ti, Ca, Fe, Na, K, and Mg;
• measuring (iii) an amount of sulfur in the hydrocarbon stream;
• and
• comparing the measured or estimated amounts of (i), (ii), and (iii) to maximum reference values, and, where the measured or estimated amounts of (i), (ii), or (iii) are higher than the maximum reference value, adjusting at least one variable of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction to control the asphaltene content, the inorganic solids content, or the sulfur content in the hydrocarbon stream;
• wherein the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction is a paraffinic froth treatment, and
• wherein the hydrocarbon stream is a hydrocarbon leg from a froth separation unit of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction, or is a hydrocarbon leg from a solvent recovery unit of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction.