ASTM D7112-09

Standard Test Method for Determining Stability and Compatibility of Heavy Fuel Oils and Crude Oils by Heavy Fuel Oil Stability Analyzer (Optical Detection)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Automatic determination of stability parameters using a light back-scattering technique improves accuracy and removes human errors. In manual testing, operators have to visually compare oil stains on pieces of filter paper to determine if asphaltenes have been precipitated.
Refinery thermal and hydrocracking processes can be run closer to their severity limits if stability parameters can be calculated more accurately. This gives increased yield and profitability.  
Results from the test method could be used to set a standard specification for stability parameters for fuel oils.
The compatibility parameters of crude oils can be used in crude oil blending in refineries to determine, in advance, which crude oil blends will be compatible and thus can be used to minimize plugging problems, unit shut downs, and maintenance costs. Determination of crude oil compatibility parameters also enables refineries to select crude oil mixtures more economically.
This test method can measure stability and compatibility parameters, and determine stability reserve on different blends for particular applications to optimize the blending, storage, and use of heavy fuel oils
Note 1—Users of this test method would normally use stability and compatibility parameters to determine stability reserve of residual products, fuel blends and crude oils. However, the interpretation of stability, stability reserve and compatibility is heavily ‘use dependent,’ and is beyond the scope of this test method.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers an automated procedure involving titration and optical detection of precipitated asphaltenes for determining the stability and compatibility parameters of refinery residual streams, residual fuel oils, and crude oils. Stability in this context is the ability to maintain asphaltenes in a peptized or dissolved state and not undergo flocculation or precipitation. Similarly, compatibility relates to the property of mixing two or more oils without precipitation or flocculation of asphaltenes.
1.2 This test method is applicable to residual products from atmospheric and vacuum distillation, from thermal, catalytic, and hydrocracking processes, to products typical of Specifications D396, Grades No. 5L, 5H, and 6, and D2880, Grades No. 3-GT and 4-GT, and to crude oils, providing these products contain 0.05 mass % or greater concentration of asphaltenes.
1.3 This test method is not relevant to oils that contain less than 0.05 % asphaltenes, and would be pointless to apply to unstable oils that already contain flocculated asphaltenes.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2009
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.14 - Stability, Cleanliness and Compatibility of Liquid Fuels

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D7112 − 09
StandardTest Method for
Determining Stability and Compatibility of Heavy Fuel Oils
and Crude Oils by Heavy Fuel Oil Stability Analyzer (Optical
1
Detection)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7112; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
1.1 This test method covers an automated procedure involv-
Petroleum Products
ing titration and optical detection of precipitated asphaltenes
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, Petroleum
for determining the stability and compatibility parameters of
Products, and Lubricants
refinery residual streams, residual fuel oils, and crude oils.
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
Stability in this context is the ability to maintain asphaltenes in
Petroleum Products
a peptized or dissolved state and not undergo flocculation or
D6299 Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance
precipitation. Similarly, compatibility relates to the property of
and Control Charting Techniques to Evaluate Analytical
mixingtwoormoreoilswithoutprecipitationorflocculationof
Measurement System Performance
asphaltenes.
D6560 Test Method for Determination ofAsphaltenes (Hep-
1.2 This test method is applicable to residual products from
tane Insolubles) in Crude Petroleum and Petroleum Prod-
atmospheric and vacuum distillation, from thermal, catalytic,
ucts
and hydrocracking processes, to products typical of Specifica-
3. Terminology
tions D396, Grades No. 5L, 5H, and 6, and D2880, Grades No.
3-GT and 4-GT, and to crude oils, providing these products
3.1 Definitions:
contain 0.05 mass % or greater concentration of asphaltenes.
3.1.1 For definitions of some terms used in this test method,
such as crude oil, repeatability, reproducibility, and residual
1.3 This test method is not relevant to oils that contain less
fuel oil, refer to Terminology D4175.
than 0.05 % asphaltenes, and would be pointless to apply to
3.1.2 asphaltenes, n—in petroleum technology, molecules
unstable oils that already contain flocculated asphaltenes.
of high molecular mass, high carbon/hydrogen ratio, and
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
containing hetero-atoms.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Asphaltenes are generally found in
standard.
crude oils and in heavy fuel oils containing residual fractions.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Their presence is determined by their insolubility in alkanes
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
such as n-heptane and solubility in aromatics such as xylene.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 compatibility, n—of crude oils and of heavy fuel oils,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the ability of two or more crude oils or fuel oils to be blended
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
together within specified ratios without evidence of separation,
such as flocculation or separation of asphaltenes.
2. Referenced Documents
2
3.1.4 flocculation, n—of asphaltenes in crude oils or heavy
2.1 ASTM Standards:
fuel oils, the aggregation of colloidally dispersed asphaltenes
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
into larger, visible masses that may or may not settle.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
3.1.5 stability reserve, n—of crude oils, heavy fuel oils, and
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
residual streams containing asphaltenes, the property of an oil
D02.14 on Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid Fuels.
to maintain asphaltenes in a peptized (colloidally dispersed)
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2009. Published February 2010. Originally
state and prevent their flocculation when stored or when
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D7112–05a. DOI:
10.1520/D7112-09.
blended with other oils.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3.1.5.1 Discussion—An oil with a high stability reserve can
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
be stored for a long period of time or blended with a range of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. other oils without flocculation of asphaltenes.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D7112–05a Designation:D7112–09
Standard Test Method for
Determining Stability and Compatibility of Heavy Fuel Oils
and Crude Oils by Heavy Fuel Oil Stability Analyzer (Optical
1
Detection)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7112; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers an automated procedure involving titration and optical detection of precipitated asphaltenes for
determining the stability and compatibility parameters of refinery residual streams, residual fuel oils, and crude oils. Stability in
this context is the ability to maintain asphaltenes in a peptized or dissolved state and not undergo flocculation or precipitation.
Similarly, compatibility relates to the property of mixing two or more oils without precipitation or flocculation of asphaltenes.
1.2 This test method is applicable to residual products from atmospheric and vacuum distillation, from thermal, catalytic, and
hydrocracking processes, to products typical of Specifications D396, Grades No. 5L, 5H, and 6, and D2880, Grades No. 3-GTand
4-GT, and to crude oils, providing these products contain 0.05 mass % or greater concentration of asphaltenes.
1.3 Thistestmethodisnotrelevanttooilsthatcontainlessthan0.05 %asphaltenes,andwouldbepointlesstoapplytounstable
oils that already contain flocculated asphaltenes.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, Petroleum Products, and Lubricants
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D6299 Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance and Control Charting Techniques to Evaluate Analytical
Measurement System Performance
D6560 Test Method for Determination of Asphaltenes (Heptane Insolubles) in Crude Petroleum and Petroleum Products
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of some terms used in this test method, such as crude oil, repeatability, reproducibility, and residual fuel
oil, refer to Terminology D4175.
3.1.2 asphaltenes, n—in petroleum technology, molecules of high molecular mass, high carbon/hydrogen ratio, and containing
hetero-atoms.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Asphaltenes are generally found in crude oils and in heavy fuel oils containing residual fractions. Their
presence is determined by their insolubility in alkanes such as n-heptane and solubility in aromatics such as xylene.
3.1.3 compatibility, n—of crude oils and of heavy fuel oils, the ability of two or more crude oils or fuel oils to be blended
together within specified ratios without evidence of separation, such as flocculation or separation of asphaltenes.
3.1.4 flocculation, n—of asphaltenes in crude oils or heavy fuel oils, the aggregation of colloidally dispersed asphaltenes into
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.14 on
Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid Fuels.
Current edition approved Nov.Dec. 1, 2005.2009. Published November 2005.February 2010. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as
D7112–05a. DOI: 10.1520/D7112-05A.10.1520/D7112-09.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D7112–09
larger, visible masses that may or may not settle.
3.1.5 stability reserve, n—o
...