Method of determining the stability reserve and solubility parameters of a process stream containing asphaltenes by joint use of turbidimetric method and refractive index

1. A method of controlling a crude oil refining process having a process stream containing asphaltenes, the method comprising:

deploying a refractive index probe at a location suitable for making a crude oil stability determination;

determining the solubility parameters and stability reserve of the crude oil; and

controlling the crude oil refining process by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process based upon the determination of the solubility parameters and stability reserve, the step of determining comprising:

(a) determining the solubility parameters by measuring a refractive index of the process stream (RI) and the refractive index at a flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo), wherein the flocculation onset is determined via turbidimetric titration, and wherein the measuring comprises:

(i) utilizing the refractive index parameters of the process stream (RI) as a direct measurement of a solubility blending number (SBo); and

(ii) utilizing the refractive index parameters at the flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo) as a direct measurement of an insolubility number (IN);

(b) determining the stability reserve by calculating the stability reserve from the solubility blending number (SBo) and the insolubility number (IN);

(c) recovering precipitated asphaltenes at the flocculation onset, redispersing the precipitated asphaltenes in a solvent to form an asphaltenic solution, measuring the refractive index parameters of the asphaltenic solution (RIa), and converting the refractive index parameters (RIa) into a solubility blending number (SBa) of the precipitated asphaltenes;

(d) making a measurement of crude oil stability, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number of the oil and the IN measured from RIo at the asphaltenes flocculation onset (SB o -IN) is indicative of the stabilizing/solvating role of one or more resins in the fluid on the asphaltenes; and

(e) making a measurement of the stabilizing/solvating role of the resins in the fluid on the asphaltenes, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number of the oil and the solubility parameter of the process stream with precipitant at the flocculation onset (SB a -IN) is indicative of the stabilizing effect of the resins.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precipitated asphaltenes are recovered via one or more of filtration or centrifugation.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recovered precipitated asphaltenes are washed with precipitant and then recovered again via one or more of filtration or centrifugation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precipitated asphaltenes are redispersed in the solvent at a ratio in the range from 1:1 solvent/asphaltenes to 10:1 solvent/asphaltenes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises one or more of light crude oil, heavy crude oil and a refinery stream comprising one or more of desalted crudes, vacuum tower bottoms, FCC slurries and heavy fuels.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises a crude oil derivative from a refinery process.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises a light crude oil with an asphaltenes content of 0.40% or greater.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises a residual thermal cracking stream from a refinery process.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the residual thermal cracking stream comprises one or more of an FCC slurry, an H-Oil, an LC Finer and a visbreaker.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises a residual hydrocracking stream from a refinery process.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises a refinery distillate stream containing no asphaltenes combined with a stream containing asphaltenes.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refractive index can be directly measured during turbidimetric titration using one or more of fiber optic, near infrared or refractometer coupled with the turbidimeter.

13. A method of transporting or storing crude oil containing asphaltenes comprising:

deploying a refractive index probe in a crude oil transportation or storage system;

making a determination of solubility parameters and stability reserve; and

controlling the process for transporting or storing the crude oil by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process, based upon the determination of solubility parameters and stability reserve, wherein the determination comprises:

(a) determining the solubility parameters by measuring a refractive index of the process stream (RI) and the refractive index at a flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo), wherein the flocculation onset is determined via turbidimetric titration, and wherein the measuring comprises:

(i) utilizing the refractive index parameters of the process stream (RI) as a direct measurement of a solubility blending number (SBo); and

(ii) utilizing the refractive index parameters at the flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo) as a direct measurement of an insolubility number (IN);

(b) determining the stability reserve by calculating the stability reserve from the solubility blending number (SBo) and the insolubility number (IN);

(c) recovering precipitated asphaltenes at the flocculation onset, redispersing the precipitated asphaltenes in a solvent to form an asphaltenic solution, measuring the refractive index parameters of the asphaltenic solution (RIa), and converting the refractive index parameters (RIa) into a solubility blending number (SBa) of the precipitated asphaltenes;

(d) making a measurement of crude oil stability, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number of the oil and the IN measured from RIo at the asphaltenes flocculation onset (SBo-IN) is indicative of the stabilizing/solvating role of one or more resins in the crude oil on the asphaltenes; and

(e) making a measurement of the stabilizing/solvating role of the resins in the crude oilfluid on the asphaltenes, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number of the oil and the solubility parameter of the process stream with precipitant at the flocculation onset (SBa-IN) is indicative of the stabilizing effect of the resins.

14. A method of optimizing a chemical program for a process stream containing asphaltenes, the method comprising:

deploying a refractive index probe at a location suitable for making a stability determination for the process stream;

determining the solubility parameters and stability reserve of the process stream; and

adjusting the amount of a chemical additive to the process stream based upon the determination of the solubility parameters and stability reserve, the step of determining comprising:

(a) determining the solubility parameters by measuring a refractive index of the process stream (RI) and the refractive index at a flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo), wherein the flocculation onset is determined via turbidimetric titration, and wherein the measuring comprises:

(i) utilizing the refractive index parameters of the process stream (RI) as a direct measurement of a solubility blending number (SBo); and

(ii) utilizing the refractive index parameters at the flocculation onset of the asphaltenes (RIo) as a direct measurement of an insolubility number (IN);

(b) determining the stability reserve by calculating the stability reserve from the solubility blending number (SBo) and the insolubility number (IN);

(c) recovering precipitated asphaltenes at the flocculation onset, redispersing the precipitated asphaltenes in a solvent to form an asphaltenic solution, measuring the refractive index parameters of the asphaltenic solution (RIa), and converting the refractive index parameters (RIa) into a solubility blending number (SBa) of the precipitated asphaltenes;

(d) making a measurement of stability, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number and the IN measured from RIo at the asphaltenes flocculation onset (SB o -IN) is indicative of the stabilizing/solvating role of one or more resins in the fluid on the asphaltenes; and

(e) making a measurement of the stabilizing/solvating role of the resins in the fluid on the asphaltenes, wherein the difference in the solubility blending number and the solubility parameter of the process stream with precipitant at the flocculation onset (SB a -IN) is indicative of the stabilizing effect of the resins.