Identification and measurement of petroleum precipitates

A number of procedures to identify and measure the precipitates that result from petroleum fluids are presented. The fractions considered in this study include those in the categories of asphaltenes, resins, saturates (paraffin/wax), aromatics, inorganic minerals and diamondoids. A combination of deposition techniques, separation by centrifuge, filtration, gas chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, and SARA (LC-HPLC) separations, and a number of other techniques are utilized to identify each fraction and quantify their concentrations. These procedures provide an understanding of the overall behavior of the species that precipitate as well as of the interactions among them. The results of such analysis are the cornerstone of any predictive and preventive measures for heavy organics deposition from petroleum fluids.