Petroleum Sample Separation for Elemental Isotopic Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The analysis of elemental and isotopic signatures in petroleum samples is complicated by the presence of both organic and inorganic fractions, making it difficult to differentiate between these components, which hinders applications such as oil-oil and oil-source-rock correlation studies and petroleum dating.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of demulsifiers and solvents to separate petroleum samples into organic and inorganic fractions, with the addition of standards to facilitate precise separation and analysis, allowing for the differentiation between hydrocarbon-soluble and inorganic elemental species.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If petroleum samples are analyzed directly for elemental and isotopic signatures, then analysis can be performed quickly, but the presence of both organic and inorganic fractions makes it difficult to differentiate between these components and obtain accurate results
Solution Approach 1:
The method segments the petroleum sample into separate organic and inorganic fractions through a multi-step preparation process involving demulsifiers and solvents. This segmentation allows independent analysis of each fraction, enabling accurate differentiation of elemental and isotopic signatures between organic and inorganic components without cross-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The method extracts inorganic fractions from the petroleum sample using demulsifiers and solvents. By removing the inorganic fraction as a separate phase, the organic fraction can be analyzed independently for its elemental and isotopic signatures, eliminating the interference that would otherwise prevent accurate measurement.
2Measurement precision
If demulsifiers and solvents are used to separate petroleum samples into organic and inorganic fractions, then accurate differentiation between fractions is achieved, but the preparation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary separation of organic and inorganic fractions before analysis using demulsifiers and solvents. This preliminary action ensures that the fractions are properly separated and prepared in advance, preventing contamination during analysis and ensuring accurate measurement of elemental and isotopic signatures without requiring repeated preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The method uses demulsifiers and solvents as intermediary substances to facilitate the separation of organic and inorganic fractions. These intermediaries enable the phases to separate cleanly, allowing for accurate subsequent analysis while the standardized use of intermediaries makes the process reproducible and efficient.
3Measurement precision
If standards are added to facilitate separation and analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and procedure steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The method uses standards that self-calibrate the analysis system. By adding known concentrations of standards to the sample, the system automatically references these known values to quantify the unknown concentrations of elemental species in the petroleum fractions, enabling precise measurement without requiring complex external calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The method changes the concentration parameter by adding standards with known concentrations to the sample. This parameter change allows for quantitative analysis by comparing the signal from the unknown sample components against the known standard signals, thereby determining the concentration of elemental species with high precision.
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
This method enables accurate differentiation and analysis of elemental and isotopic signatures, improving the accuracy of petroleum sample analysis and applications such as source-rock environment identification and petroleum dating by isolating organic and inorganic fractions effectively.
Implementation Method 1
adding a first demulsifier to the petroleum sample
Implementation Method 2
mixing the one or more intermediate organic fractions with at least one of (i) a solvent in which a specified inorganic contaminant species is soluble
Data Source
AI summary
A method of separating petroleum samples containing a hydrocarbon-soluble elemental species of interest to facilitate analysis of an elemental and/or isotopic signature. A petroleum sample is mixed with a demulsifier and separated, for example by centrifuging, into one or more intermediate organic fractions. The intermediate organic fraction(s) are mixed with a solvent such as water and a second demulsifier, then separated into one or more prepared organic fractions and one or more solvent-based fractions. Some or all of the resulting fractions are then stored for possible further processing. Optionally, the petroleum sample may be spiked with one or more of an organic standard and an inorganic standard, and the solvent may likewise be spiked with an inorganic internal standard, to facilitate later analysis.