DE-FE0014830

Goal
The primary objective of this work is to provide laboratory support to the Department of Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as an essential component of the quality assurance program during acquisition, long-term storage, and draw down of SPR crude oils. A major component of this work is to provide critical data pertaining to chemical and physical properties of crude oil, sludge, and brine samples obtained from SPR caverns. Other objectives include evaluating the compatibility of newly acquired crude oil with that of the current cavern inventory, characterizing the properties of the resultant blend, and determining its effect on long-term storage, as well as to provide detailed laboratory analyses to support understanding of quality changes and stability of SPR crude oil under cavern storage conditions.

Performer
Core Laboratories L.P., Tulsa, OK 741175901

Background
SPR crude oil is segregated by type into sweet and sour oil categories at each of four facilities in Louisiana and Texas. The caverns consist of a blend of multiple-sourced crude oils of similar composition that are commingled in long-term storage. When a new crude oil is acquired, the SPR must evaluate the compatibility of the acquired crude oil with the current cavern inventory, characterize the properties of the resultant blend, and determine the effect it could have on long-term storage.

Crude oil storage in underground salt dome caverns poses a unique set of challenges. In order to maintain the overall quality of the stored oil and minimize the adverse effects of storing it in underground salt dome caverns, a testing and analysis program is needed to ensure the quality of the crude oil is maintained throughout the storage period.

In the event of a release of SPR crude oil, refineries taking receipt of the oil must know its chemical and physical properties. SPR crude oil typically would be taken from multiple caverns simultaneously, and the properties of each cavern vary; therefore, the properties of the individual caverns that make up the stream and the properties of the blended stream must be identified.

Impact
Core Laboratories and its predecessors have provided analytical and technical support to SPR Headquarters (SPRHQ) for the U.S. Department of Energy for many years. This project is a continuation of those support activities. The technical support provided assists the SPRHQ in fulfilling its mandated mission of maintaining a viable stockpile of crude oil. These support activities provide detailed analyses of crude oil streams, cargos, and storage cavern composites necessary to ensure that the quality of the stockpile is maintained.

Accomplishments

• Core Laboratories has completed the H2S Scavenger response study and provided the results to the SPR project management office for review.
• During the first year of the contract, Core Laboratories analyzed four sets of samples from four caverns and provided inspection analyses and comprehensive assays for each set.
• Core Laboritories has received four additional sets of cavern samples since the beginning of Option year 1 (June 20, 2012) and has completed three out of four assays.

Current Status (December 2012)
Core Laboratories has received 60 cavern assays along with the updated cavern inventories since the project start date. Core Laboratories uses this information to update SPR’s sweet and sour crude stream assays at SPR’s request and is currently working on the fourth requested comprehensive assay, which is expected to be completed by January 2013.

Project Start: June 20, 2011
Project End: June 19, 2014

Project Funding Information:
Base Year – 12 months, DOE Contribution: $238,054.00
Option Year 1 – 12 months, DOE Contribution: $238,054.00
Option Year 2 – 12 months, DOE Contribution: $238,054.00

Contact Information:
NETL – William Fincham (william.fincham@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-4268)
Core Laboritories – Dan Carlson (Dan.Carlson@corelab.com or 281-478-1300)