Reduce Octane Giveaway – Increase Profitability

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