Patent ID: 8367425
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: C10G,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein comprising the steps of: (a) intentionally precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column that has a substantially chemically inert stationary phase established therein, wherein the substantially chemically inert stationary phase is substantially chemically inert relative to the precipitated asphaltenes; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.