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Sulphur content estimation of Venezuelan heavy oil by fast neutron and gamma transmission technique

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Abstract

A compact and modern equipment for implementing the fast neutron and γ-ray transmission technique (FNGT) has been developed in order to estimate the sulphur content of crude oil. FNGT is employed for non- destructive analysis of different kinds of samples. The compact system presented in this work represents an improvement of our previous experimental set-up [1, 2]. It makes use of a 252Cf source, an EJ-301 liquid scintillator detector (2″ × 2″) with excellent n/γ discrimination capabilities, and modern nuclear electronics based on fast digitizers. The fast neutron and gamma transmission technique was employed to study a system for on-line sulphur concentration measurement in Venezuelan heavy sour oil. The range of sulphur concentrations investigated is between 0.1 and 6.5 wt%. The equipment performances and limitations are compared with those predicted by a Monte Carlo model built in GEANT4 v10.01. The results show the possibility to implement a compact unit for on-line determination of sulphur concentration in crude oil.

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Acknowledgements

The co-authors F. Pino and L. Sajo Bohus are indebted for the financial support as invited visitors to the University of Padova.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Simon Bolivar, Ap.do 89000, Caracas, 1080A, Venezuela

    F. Pino, H. Barros, A. Vidal & L. Sajo-Bohus

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia dell’, Università di Padova, 35131, Padua, Italy

    F. Pino, L. Stevanato, M. Lunardon, S. Moretto & L. Sajo-Bohus

  3. INFN Sezione di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy

    D. Fabris & G. Nebbia

Authors
  1. F. Pino
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  2. L. Stevanato
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  3. D. Fabris
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  4. H. Barros
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  5. A. Vidal
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  6. G. Nebbia
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  7. M. Lunardon
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  9. L. Sajo-Bohus
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Correspondence to F. Pino.

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Pino, F., Stevanato, L., Fabris, D. et al. Sulphur content estimation of Venezuelan heavy oil by fast neutron and gamma transmission technique. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 1833–1839 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5533-2

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