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AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsSebastien L. Dreyfus, Lloyd M. Wenger, Jr., Holger K. Justwan
Estimating the term…
A method of separating petroleum samples containing a hydrocarbon-soluble elemental species of interest to facilitate analysis of an elemental and/or isotopic signature. A petroleum sample is mixed with a demulsifier and separated, for example by centrifuging, into one or more intermediate organic fractions. The intermediate organic fraction(s) are mixed with a solvent such as water and a second demulsifier, then separated into one or more prepared organic fractions and one or more solvent-based fractions. Some or all of the resulting fractions are then stored for possible further processing. Optionally, the petroleum sample may be spiked with one or more of an organic standard and an inorganic standard, and the solvent may likewise be spiked with an inorganic internal standard, to facilitate later analysis.
A method of preparing a petroleum sample having an inorganic contaminant species for use with one or more of elemental and isotopic signature analysis, comprising:
A method of preparing a petroleum sample having an organic and an inorganic fraction for use with one or more of elemental and isotopic signature analysis, comprising:
A method of preparing a petroleum sample, said petroleum sample containing (i) an organic fraction containing a specified hydrocarbon-soluble elemental species referred to as a species of interest, and (ii) an inorganic contaminant fraction that includes the species of interest;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.