Oliver C. Mullins - Böcker

Asphaltenes have traditionally been viewed as being extremely complex, thus very hard to characterize. In addition, certain fundamental properties of asphaltenes have pre­ viously been inaccessible to study by traditional macroscopic methods, further limiting understanding of asphaltenes. These limitations inhibited development of descriptions regarding the microscopic structure and solution dynamics of asphaltenes. However, a variety ofmore recent studies have implied that asphaltenes share many chemical properties with the smaller, more tractable components of crude oils. Recent measurements have indicated that asphaltene molecular weights are not as !arge as previously thought, perhaps in the range of 600 to I 000 amu. In addition, new experimental methods applied to asphaltene chemical structures have been quite revealing, yielding a broad understanding. Conse­ quently, the ability to relate chemical structure with physical and chemical properties can be developed and extended to the understanding of important commercial properties of asphal­ tenes. This book treats significant new developments in the fundamentals and applications of asphaltenes. In the first section ofthe book, new experimental methods are described that characterize asphaltene structures from the molecular to colloidallength scale. The colloidal properties are understandable in terms of asphaltene chemical structures, especially with regard to the heteroatom impact on bonding. However, quantitative measurements of the of asphaltene self-association still need to be determined. In the second section of enthalpy this book, the fundamental understanding of asphaltenes is related riirectly to asphaltene utilization.

The investigative assault upon the enigmatic asphaltenes has recently resulted in sig­ nificant advances in many varied disciplines. Taken individually, each discipline exposes certain facets of asphaltenes, but each, alone, can never reveal asphaltenes from all van­ tages. Even seemingly narrowly focused issues such as the molecular structures of asphal­ tenes, or the colloidal structures of asphaltenes require a confluence of many lines of investigation to yield an understanding which differs from truth by diminishing uncer­ tainty. An holistic treatment of the asphaltenes is a powerful approach to evolve further their understanding. For example, examination of asphaltenes at the highest resolution yields molecular structure. A slight increase in scale probes asphaltene colloidal structure. Weaving together asphaltene studies performed at different length scales results in a fabric which envelops an encompassing vision of asphaltenes. At the same time, the interfaces of these hierarchical studies provide additional constraints on imagination, more than investi­ gations at individual length scales alone. These considerations shaped the timing, format, and the content of our book. The editors are very appreciative of the diligence and hard work manifest in each of the contributed chapters herein. We thank the contributing authors for making this project a success. Oliver C. Mullins Eric Y. Sheu vii CONTENTS I. Asphaltenes: Types and Sources ...................................... .

This book represents an amalgam of objectives related to the study of petroleum at many,diverselevels. Themostimportantattributeanythrivingtechnical?eldmust have is an injection and infusion of dedicated, expert, young scientists who have absorbed from their elders the fascination of scienti?c mystery coupled with the fundamental satisfaction of revelation and providing contribution. And, of course, these youthful practitioners must also learn to challenge the authority of their - ders. Fromexperienceswithmyownstudents,thisseemsnottobeaproblem. Many chapters in this book are coauthored by young scientists yielding the prognosis of continued health of our scienti?c ?eld. Indeed, I am quite proud that several of my own chapters in this book are coauthored with students and young engineers of enormous capability. It is a humbling honor to help delineate direction of this formidable talent. It is incumbent upon my generation of scientists to provide a vision of the future. In this book, weconnect the scienti?c excellence of the past with a vision for petroleum science, Petroleomics. Medical science of the past has been of singular societal focus with scienti?c discoveries of enormous import. Nevertheless,Genomicsisrevolutionaryinthatcausalrelationsinmedicalscience are being established with scienti?c exactitude and fundamental understanding. Genomics is creating a predictive medical science that was but a dream for p- vious generations. In a similar way, scienti?c advances described in this book are laying the foundations for Petroleomics—the challenge and framework to agitate ouryouthfulcontributors. Petroleomicsembodiestheestablishmentofstructure— function relations in petroleum science with particular focus on asphaltenes, the most enigmatic of petroleum components.

This book represents an amalgam of objectives related to the study of petroleum at many,diverselevels. Themostimportantattributeanythrivingtechnical?eldmust have is an injection and infusion of dedicated, expert, young scientists who have absorbed from their elders the fascination of scienti?c mystery coupled with the fundamental satisfaction of revelation and providing contribution. And, of course, these youthful practitioners must also learn to challenge the authority of their - ders. Fromexperienceswithmyownstudents,thisseemsnottobeaproblem. Many chapters in this book are coauthored by young scientists yielding the prognosis of continued health of our scienti?c ?eld. Indeed, I am quite proud that several of my own chapters in this book are coauthored with students and young engineers of enormous capability. It is a humbling honor to help delineate direction of this formidable talent. It is incumbent upon my generation of scientists to provide a vision of the future. In this book, weconnect the scienti?c excellence of the past with a vision for petroleum science, Petroleomics. Medical science of the past has been of singular societal focus with scienti?c discoveries of enormous import. Nevertheless,Genomicsisrevolutionaryinthatcausalrelationsinmedicalscience are being established with scienti?c exactitude and fundamental understanding. Genomics is creating a predictive medical science that was but a dream for p- vious generations. In a similar way, scienti?c advances described in this book are laying the foundations for Petroleomics—the challenge and framework to agitate ouryouthfulcontributors. Petroleomicsembodiestheestablishmentofstructure— function relations in petroleum science with particular focus on asphaltenes, the most enigmatic of petroleum components.