Predicting paraffin precipitation of crude oil by database analysis to determine mass fraction of certain hydrocarbons and parameter(s) indicating crystallization

摘要

Predicting paraffin precipitation in a crude oil includes compiling a database. The data is analyzed to classify the oil according to its mass fraction of hydrocarbon compounds. A thermodynamic model analyses the database to determine parameter(s) indicating crystallization. An Independent claim is included for the following: (a) Additionally, in the above method where the database includes density data taken from drawings of boreholes, data from the analysis of rock and samples taken from an oil reservoir rock formation. The parameters are crystallization temperature or the solid fraction precipitating when the temperature drops below a critical value. Preferred Features: The oil is classified into compounds with more or less than 14 carbon atoms. The former can be sub-divided into n-alkanes with more than 14 carbons, saturated and unsaturated non-straight chain hydrocarbons. The latter can be sub-divided into n-alkanes with 14 carbons and less than 14 carbons, iso-alkanes, naphthenes and aromatics.