Reduce Octane Giveaway – Increase Profitability

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Using Process Instruments Raman technology, one 240,000 bpd Bay-area refinery achieved OCTANE GIVEAWAY savings of $3 million annually

  • Raman accurately detects key high-octane contributors
    • Benzene
    • Toluene
    • Iso-octane
    • Xylenes
  • Reduces
    • Reprocessing of batches
    • Tankage requirements
  • Improves blend performance

Note Raman’s improved spectra resolution

  • Aromatics have a stronger spectral response with Raman than many other forms of spectroscopy (e.g., near-infrared spectroscopy [NIR])
  • Single, full range octane model can measure all seasonal blends within 0.1 to 0.2 octane units
  • Process Instruments guarantees that our Raman octane measurements always meet or exceed ASTM guidelines
  • Unlike NIR, Raman is not sensitive to crude slate changes
    • No need to develop unique models for different crudes
  • Raman is a fundamental phenomenon
    • Individual Raman peaks are narrow and discrete
      • Eliminates overlapping peaks often seen in NIR spectra
    • Raman models can be prepared normally with fewer calibration samples
    • Models tend to
      • Be more robust (last longer)
      • Have improved standard errors of prediction (SEPs)
  • As with our Reid vapor pressure (RVP) modeling, full-range octane models can easily be divided into multiple, smaller sub-blend models that match seasonal and/or geographical blends