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US 9,518,184 B2Granted
Process for preparing blends of bitumen having known stability properties
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJoseph L. Stark, Ben Morgan, Jennifer D. Draper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bitumen may be prepared by obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample, and modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample. The inflection point value may correlate to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent. The mixed bitumen product stream may have or include at least two bitumen feed streams.
Claims18
A method of preparing bitumen comprising:
- obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams;
- wherein the inflection point value correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent;
- wherein the obtaining the inflection point value occurred by:
- adding a non-solvent to the mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- transmitting near IR laser light through the mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added;
- and
- modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream is selected from the group consisting of:
- altering the ratio of the at least two bitumen feed streams within the mixed bitumen product stream;
- introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream;
- and
- combinations thereof:
- and
- giving a result selected from the group consisting of:
- a stable mixed bitumen product stream;
- the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream;
- and
- both;
- where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of:
- at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen;
- and
- at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon.
19 more elements
A method of preparing bitumen comprising:
- obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams;
- wherein the inflection point value correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent;
- wherein the obtaining the inflection point value occurred by:
- adding a non-solvent to the mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- transmitting near IR laser light through the mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added;
- and
- introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- giving a result selected from the group consisting of:
- a stable mixed bitumen product stream;
- the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream;
- and
- both;
- where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of:
- at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen;
- and
- at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon.
14 more elements
A method of preparing bitumen comprising:
- obtaining an equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams;
- analyzing the stability of the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream comprising:
- adding a non-solvent to the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- transmitting near IR laser light through the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample;
- determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added;
- and
- modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream is selected from the group consisting of:
- altering the ratio of the at least two bitumen feed streams within the mixed bitumen product stream;
- introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream;
- and
- combinations thereof:
- and
- giving a result selected from the group consisting of:
- a stable mixed bitumen product stream;
- the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream;
- and
- both;
- where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of:
- at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen;
- and
- at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.