Synergistic asphalt crude compositions

摘要

Methods are provided for forming an asphalt fraction corresponding to a blend of asphalts, the asphalt fraction having at least one property that is unexpectedly better than the expected property value based on the individual asphalts used in the blend. The unexpectedly beneficial blends of asphalts are formed in part by including an effective amount of a Napo crude oil or crude fraction in the feed used to form the asphalt fraction. For some asphalt blends, including an effective amount of a Napo crude in the feed can allow for production of an asphalt with a low temperature performance grade that is lower than the predicted value by at least 0.5° C., such as at least 0.75° C. or at least 1.0° C.

主权项

1. A method for forming an asphalt fraction, comprising:
selecting a high temperature performance grade for all asphalt fraction; receiving a blend of a plurality of crude fractions, the blend of the plurality of crude fractions comprising 20 wt % to 70 wt % of a Napo crude fraction, the blend of crude fractions having a predicted low temperature performance grade using a linear average prediction model at the selected high temperature performance grade that is at least 2.5° C. greater than a low temperature performance grade for the Napo crude oil at the selected high temperature performance grade; and separating the blend of crude fractions to form an asphalt fraction having a high temperature performance grade that differs from the selected high temperature performance grade by 0.1° C. or less, the low temperature performance grade of the blended asphalt being lower than the predicted low temperature performance grade by at least 0.5° C.