NIR Spectroscopy for Hydrocarbon Mixture Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring solvent concentration in produced fluids during heavy oil recovery are slow and often inaccurate, and existing NIR spectroscopy techniques cannot simultaneously analyze multiple components in a mixture, which is crucial for commingled hydrocarbon fluids from different sources.
Innovation Solution
A method using NIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics, specifically Partial Least Squares regression, to create calibration models for estimating the concentration of components in a mixture by acquiring and analyzing NIR spectra from calibration and monitored mixtures, allowing for accurate determination of component concentrations in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If density measurement is used to estimate solvent concentration, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/density-based measurement methods with optical spectroscopy (NIR). The spectrometer uses light absorption in the near-infrared region to directly measure solvent concentration, eliminating the need for density measurements and manual calculations. This substitution provides both operational simplicity and high measurement precision through direct optical detection of chemical composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from physical property (density) to spectral property (NIR absorbance). By measuring the absorption of near-infrared light at specific wavelengths characteristic of solvent molecules, the system directly correlates spectral data with concentration through calibration models, achieving accurate real-time measurements without density-based estimation.
2Loss of information
If traditional NIR spectroscopy is used for component analysis, then spectral data acquisition is improved, but analysis capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the NIR spectroscopy system universal by enabling simultaneous analysis of multiple components (solvent, heavy oil, water) within a single measurement. The chemometric methods (PLS regression, PCA) allow the system to handle complex multi-component mixtures, extracting concentration information for each component from the composite spectrum. This multi-functional capability replaces the need for separate analysis methods for different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemometric methods as intermediaries between the raw spectral data and component concentration results. These mathematical tools (PLS regression, PCA) process the complex spectral information, separating overlapping signals from different components and converting them into accurate concentration measurements. The chemometrics act as a mediator that transforms spectral data into actionable compositional information.
3Measurement precision
If manual or batch analysis methods are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring of component concentrations during heavy oil production and solvent recovery processes. The NIR spectrometer continuously acquires spectral data from the fluid stream, and chemometric models continuously calculate concentrations, providing uninterrupted feedback for process control. This eliminates batch sampling and manual analysis, maintaining high measurement precision while enabling continuous operation and improved productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, real-time analysis of hydrocarbon mixtures with high precision, effectively monitoring solvent concentrations and optimizing solvent injection in heavy oil recovery processes, improving oil production rates and recovery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) provides information on chemical and physical properties of sample components
Data Source
AI summary
A method of estimating the relative concentration of at least two components contained in a mixture of the components is disclosed. At least two mixtures are produced by combining the at least two components, each of the at least two mixtures having different concentrations of the at least two components. NIR mixture spectra are acquired from each of the at least two mixtures. The NIR component spectra and the NIR mixture spectra are input into a computer utilizing chemometrics software and the spectra are analyzed to produce a calibration model for each component and each of the mixture NIR spectra. NIR monitored spectra for a monitored mixture of the components having an unknown concentration of the components is acquired. The calibration models are applied to the NIR monitored spectra to thereby estimate the concentration of at least one of the components in the monitored mixture.