Analysis of hydrocarbon liquid and solid samples

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for analysis and/or profiling of petroleum samples. The systems and methods allow for compositional analysis of samples using techniques that can be implemented outside of a laboratory setting, such as in a refinery or even at a petroleum or hydrocarbon source. The techniques are enabled by using desorption electrospray ionization as a method for generating ions for detection by mass spectroscopy. Desorption electrospray ionization can be used to generate ions for detection from a liquid or solid petroleum (or other hydrocarbon) sample with minimal sample preparation. For solid samples, the technique can also be used to identify changes in composition of a petroleum sample relative to a dimension of the solid sample.

主权项

1. A method for analyzing a hydrocarbon sample, comprising:
obtaining a solid matrix containing a hydrocarbon sample; wherein the solid matrix comprises one of source rocks, reservoir rocks, oil shale, sedimentary rocks, or a core sample taken from a potential or existing well location or shale extraction location; impinging a solvent on a surface of the solid matrix at an angle between about 30° and about 60° relative to the surface, the solvent comprising a stream of solvent droplets, the solvent comprising a non-polar compound and a polar compound; capturing droplets desorbed from the surface of the solid matrix at an inlet conduit for a mass spectrometer, the captured droplets including one or more compounds from the hydrocarbon sample; and generating at least one mass spectrum based on the one or more compounds from the hydrocarbon sample.