Patent ID: 9222929
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of solvent surveillance, comprising the steps of: (a) measuring an amount of a native bitumen marker (NBM) in heavy oil; (b) measuring an amount of the NBM in a recovery-aid solvent; (c) measuring an amount of the NBM in a blend, wherein the blend comprises the heavy oil and the recovery-aid solvent; (d) applying a blending model to determine a fraction of the recovery-aid solvent in the blend, wherein the blending model is at least partially described by formula: the fraction of the recovery-aid solvent in the blend=(NBMo-NBMb)/(NBMo-NBMras); wherein NBMo is the amount of the NBM in the heavy oil, NBMb is the amount of the NBM in the blend, NBMras is the amount of the NBM in the recovery-aid solvent; (e) generating an output that corresponds to the amount of recovery-aid solvent in the blend; and (f) adjusting at least one step in a solvent recovery process in response to the output.