METHOD TO DETERMINE TRACE AMOUNTS OF CRUDE OIL BY SPECTROSCOPIC ABSORPTION

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for determining trace amounts of crude oil in water, including the steps of collecting a sample of an oil-containing fluid, adding a toluene extraction volume to the sample, perturbing the sample, dissolving substantially all of the amount of oil in the toluene extraction volume to create a mixed sample, extracting the mixed sample to create an oil-in-toluene layer and an aqueous fluid layer, removing a portion of the oil-in-toluene layer into a dilution container, diluting the portion of the oil-in-toluene layer with a toluene dilution volume to create a dilute sample, measuring an absorption value of the dilute sample using a spectrophotometer, and comparing the absorption value to a calibration curve to quantify the amount of oil in the oil-containing fluid.

主权项

1. A method for determining trace amounts of crude oil in an oil-containing fluid within a core sample, the method comprising the steps of:
removing at least a portion of the oil-containing fluid from the core sample to create a sample of oil-containing fluid, wherein the oil-containing fluid comprises an amount of oil and an aqueous fluid; adding a toluene extraction volume to the sample; perturbing the sample, wherein the toluene extraction volume contacts the oil-containing fluid; dissolving substantially all of the amount of oil in the toluene extraction volume to create a mixed sample; extracting the mixed sample to create an oil-in-toluene layer and an aqueous fluid layer; removing a pre-defined portion of the oil-in-toluene layer into a dilution container; diluting the pre-defined portion of the oil-in-toluene layer with a toluene dilution volume to create a dilute sample; measuring an absorption value of the dilute sample using a spectrophotometer; and comparing the absorption value to a calibration curve to quantify the amount of oil in the oil-containing fluid.