Method for continual monitoring and treating a hydrocarbon oil stream
First Claim
1. A method of treating a crude oil stream containing incompatible fouling asphaltenes wherein an antifoulant is introduced into said stream which comprises(a) continually obtaining a sample from said stream at frequent time intervals;
- (b) for each sample obtained measuring a property of the sample which is indicative of the incompatible asphaltenes therein; and
(c) adjusting the introduction of the antifoulant in response to changes in the level of incompatible asphaltenes in the samples as indicated in step (b).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Samples of a petroleum oil stream (e.g. crude oil feed stream to a refinery) are continually monitored to determine incompatible asphaltenes therein and the rate of antifoulant is adjusted in response to changes in the level of incompatible asphaltenes. The method of the present invention employs thin layer chromatographic films for separating incompatible asphaltenes and for measuring an optical property indicative of the incompatible asphaltenes, and for varying antifoulant addition in response to changes of the optical property measured.
39 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of treating a crude oil stream containing incompatible fouling asphaltenes wherein an antifoulant is introduced into said stream which comprises
(a) continually obtaining a sample from said stream at frequent time intervals; -
(b) for each sample obtained measuring a property of the sample which is indicative of the incompatible asphaltenes therein; and (c) adjusting the introduction of the antifoulant in response to changes in the level of incompatible asphaltenes in the samples as indicated in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification