Fast Computable Functions for Crude Oil Core Property Assessment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional crude oil assays are lengthy, tedious, and costly due to the complexity of determining various dependent properties, which hinders efficient refinery planning and scheduling.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that uses a directed graph to model dependencies among fast computable functions and core properties, greedily selecting a set of fast computable functions to determine core properties by connecting each core property node to the solution set, thereby reducing the number of functions needed to assess all core properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional crude oil assay procedures are used to determine various dependent properties, then comprehensive property assessment is achieved, but the process becomes lengthy, tedious, and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive property assessmentVSAvoidassay duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the crude oil assay process by dividing properties into core properties and dependent properties. The directed graph separates function nodes into those computing core properties and those computing dependent properties, allowing the assay to be performed in stages - first computing only core properties quickly, then optionally computing dependent properties only if needed, thereby reducing overall assay time and cost while maintaining comprehensive assessment capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and identifies a minimal subset of core properties from the full set of crude oil properties using the directed graph analysis. By taking out only the essential core properties that are not dependent on other properties, the system eliminates unnecessary computation of dependent properties when only core assessment is required, significantly reducing assay duration and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If conventional crude oil assay procedures are used to determine various dependent properties, then comprehensive property assessment is achieved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive property assessmentVSAvoidassay cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the crude oil assay process by dividing properties into core properties and dependent properties. The directed graph separates function nodes into those computing core properties and those computing dependent properties, allowing the assay to be performed in stages - first computing only core properties quickly, then optionally computing dependent properties only if needed, thereby reducing overall assay time and cost while maintaining comprehensive assessment capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by computing only the necessary subset of core properties rather than all possible properties. The directed graph identifies which properties are core (not dependent) versus dependent, allowing the system to perform partial computation of only essential properties, thereby reducing cost and energy consumption while maintaining sufficient assessment quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If all crude oil properties are computed using conventional methods, then complete property data is obtained, but the complexity of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproperty data completenessVSAvoidassay process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the crude oil assay process by dividing properties into core properties and dependent properties. The directed graph separates function nodes into those computing core properties and those computing dependent properties, allowing the assay to be performed in stages - first computing only core properties quickly, then optionally computing dependent properties only if needed, thereby reducing overall assay time and cost while maintaining comprehensive assessment capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-analyzing the property dependencies using the directed graph to identify which properties are core versus dependent. This preliminary analysis is performed once, and then the simplified computation path is used for actual assays, reducing complexity for repeated assessments while ensuring complete property data can be obtained when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11500654B2Selecting a set of fast computable functions to assess core properties of entities

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Methods and systems for selecting a set of fast computable functions to assess core properties of entities are disclosed. A method includes: receiving a request to select a set of fast computable functions to determine core properties of an entity; determining, for each of a plurality of fast computable function nodes in a directed graph, a set of core property nodes in the directed graph that are connected to the fast computable function node; adding, to a solution set, a fast computable function node that is connected to a highest number of core property nodes that are currently unconnected to nodes in the solution set; repeating the adding until each of the core property nodes is connected to at least one of the nodes in the solution set; and outputting the fast computable function nodes in the solution set in response to the request.