Standard Test Method for Determination of Organic Chloride Content in Crude Oil

Abstract

5.1 Organic chlorides do not occur naturally in crude oil. When present, they result from contamination in some manner, such as disposal of chlorinated solvent used in many dewaxing pipeline or other equipment operations. 5.1.1 Uncontaminated crude oil will contain no detectable organic chloride, and most refineries can handle very small amounts without deleterious effects. 5.1.1.1 Most trade contracts specify that no organic chloride is present in the crude oil. 5.1.2 Several pipelines have set specification limits at <1 mg/kg organic chlorides in the whole crude, and <5 mg/kg in the light naphtha, on the basis of the naphtha fraction being 20 % of the original sample. 5.1.2.1 To ensure <1 mg/kg organic chloride in the crude oil, the amount measured in the naphtha fraction shall be <1/f (where f is the naphtha fraction calculated with Eq 3). 5.1.3 Organic chloride present in the crude oil (for example, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, etc.) is usually distilled into the naphtha fraction. Some compounds break down during fractionation and produce hydrochloric acid, which has a corrosive effect. Some compounds survive fractionation and are destroyed during hydro-treating (desulfurization of the naphtha). 5.2 Other halides can also be used for dewaxing crude oil; in such cases, any organic halides will have similar impact on the refining operations as the organic chlorides. 5.3 Organic chloride species are potentially damaging to refinery processes. Hydrochloric acid can be produced in hydrotreating or reforming reactors and the acid accumulates in condensing regions of the refinery. Unexpected concentrations of organic chlorides cannot be effectively neutralized and damage can result. Organic chlorides are not known to be naturally present in crude oils and usually result from cleaning operations at producing sites, pipelines, or tanks. It is important for the oil industry to have common methods available for the determination of organic chlorides in crude oil, particularly when transfer of custody is involved.