(188e) A Comprehensive Approach to Assessing Opportunity Crudes

Recently produced crudes can be purchased at attractive discounts, largely because the crudes possess an increased corrosion potential, present increased processing concerns, contain problematic contaminants and can provide reduced product value. An evaluation of processing these crudes must include all potential downside aspects to effectively determine if the margin discount is adequate to justify the purchase. As a result, a systematic approach has been developed to evaluate opportunity crudes in order to permit processing them. The major focal points of this assessment are the following: sulfidation and naphthenic acid corrosion, processing effects, contaminants, product value, and downstream effects.