Near-infrared (NIR) technology has a long history of use in the petroleum industry for the rapid analysis (quantification and qualification) of various chemical and physical characteristics of petrochemical and petroleum based products. Because of the ease and speed of analysis, NIR has become an essential tool for assuring product quality in the petrochemical industry.

Field analysis of chemical products is desirable not only for precautionary reasons, but also for streamlining processes. ASD's LabSpec^® series spectrometers are ideally suited to this task, as well as the QualitySpec^® Pro for analysis not requiring portability. Having the ability to conduct analysis rapidly, non-destructively, and in the field is ideal for saving time and money in a safe and efficient manner.

Most recently, NIR has been been identified as a successful technique for assessing crude oil attributes in the field. Additionally, NIR is proving invaluable in the monitoring of oil sands processing.

Some of the features include:

• Density (g/ml)
• Hydrogen
• Carbon
• Cetane Number
• Hexane Number
• Aromatics (Mono, Di, Tri, & Total)
• Total Acid Number (TAN)
• Flash Point
• Boiling Point
• Cloud Point
• Freeze Point
• Moisture
• Pour Point Kinetic Viscosity (mm ^2/s)
• Sulfur
• Octane Number
• RON (research octane number)
• MON (motor octane number)
• PON (pump octane number)
• MTBE (tert-Butyl methyl ether)
• RVP (Reid vapour pressure)
• Ethanol
• Bromine Number
• Lead
• MIBK (methyl isobutyl keytone)
• Olefins & Saturates content in various fuel types

Constituents in oils vary in nature and may or may not influence the behavior of the oil. Vis/NIR Spectroscopy is ideal for quantitative analysis of these constituents and the properties of oils. ASD's analyzers have been used very successfully to determine and monitor TAN levels, as well as concentrations of bitumen, and other elements contained in oil sands, conventional oils, and natural gas deposits. Field portable analyzers are necessary to perform field assessment of oils, as well as other geological applications that are more efficiently evaluated in the field.