Patent ID: 6690453
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for predicting the flocculation threshold of asphaltenes contained in a hydrocarbon mixture, characterized in that the following stages are carried out:determining the refraction index (nA) of several asphaltenes used as reference asphaltenes; determining experimentally, for predetermined thermodynamic conditions, the variation of solubility index (&dgr;) in connection with the refraction index of hydrocarbon constituents including light hydrocarbons and reference asphaltenes; deducing therefrom a correlation relation modelling this variation of solubility index (&dgr;). determining refraction index (nA) of the asphaltenes of the hydrocarbon mixture under the same thermodynamic conditions and by reference to said correlation relation, deducing solubility index (&dgr;) of the asphaltenes of said mixture therefrom; and predicting directly the flocculation threshold from the solubility index of the asphaltenes of said mixture and from a thermodynamic equilibrium model.