CRUDE OIL ANALYZER

Significance of the Topic

Analytical characterization of crude oil boiling point distribution and cut-point intervals is fundamental to optimizing refining processes, ensuring compliance with industry standards and maximizing economic value.

Objectives and Study Overview

The primary goal of this work is to integrate a detailed hydrocarbon analysis for the light fraction of crude oil with high temperature simulated distillation for the heavy fraction, generating a unified total true boiling point (TBP) curve. This approach aims to enhance the accuracy and precision of boiling point range determination across the entire crude oil sample within ASTM D7169, IP 545, IP 601 and EN 15199-3 specifications.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The method combines:

• Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis Front End (DHA FE) to separate and quantify C1 to nC9 components without quenching effects, using a capillary column and flame ionization detection.
• High Temperature Simulated Distillation (HT SIMDIS) according to ASTM D7169 to characterize boiling points above C9 up to 720°C and beyond.

The data streams are merged using specialized software algorithms to produce a single TBP distribution for the whole crude oil.

Instrumentation Employed

The system consists of a gas chromatograph configured for both DHA FE and HT SIMDIS analyses, equipped with:

• 50 m capillary column for DHA FE
• Flame ionization detector
• Carrier gases: helium and hydrogen
• Cryogenic oven cooling (liquid nitrogen or CO2)
• AC software for merging and reporting mass and volume percent distributions

Main Results and Discussion

By combining DHA FE and HT SIMDIS, the recovery of light ends up to nC9 increased to 94.3 %, eliminating the quenching effect observed when using CS2 diluent in HT SIMDIS alone. Precision in the low boiling region improved significantly, enabling more reliable cut-point determination. The merged TBP curve delivers consistent data across the full boiling range, reducing uncertainty in product yield predictions.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This integrated approach provides refiners with precise boiling point distributions, supporting optimal fractionation and blending strategies. It enhances quality control, minimizes product give-away, and ensures compliance with multiple international standards. The ability to report both mass and volume percent further adds flexibility to refinery operation monitoring.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging developments may include real-time data fusion with advanced chemometric models, integration of mass spectrometry for compositional insights, miniaturized SIMDIS modules for field use, and greener cooling systems. Increased automation and cloud-based analytics are expected to streamline workflows and expand applications in reservoir quality assessment and direct crude assays.

Conclusion

The Crude Oil Analyzer methodology unifies high-resolution DHA and HT SIMDIS techniques to deliver a comprehensive and accurate boiling point profile for crude oils. This dual-analysis strategy addresses the limitations of each individual method and provides refiners with actionable, high-quality data for improved process control and product optimization.