Start Date
March 2016

Background
This project was initiated at the close of the Heavy Oil Compatibility (HOC) project. An informal poll was taken of the existing project members to determine which of the available methods was most commonly used. The most common response was “other” therefore no consistent method was being used among the project participants. This made comparison of data virtually impossible and the development of a guide or recommendation on compatibility was not possible.

Based on the work that was completed in the HOC, the project group found the various compatibility methods used in industry produced representative results however the results of each method were not comparable to each other. There was a desire to identify or develop a method that was simple, cost sensitive, non-proprietary, and easily deployed across the industry. No method was identified that met the criteria so the CCQTA set out to develop one.

This project has been CCQTA sponsored since its inception.

Milestones as of September 2024

• Initial test method development began with Upgrading Solutions and Maxxam Analytics leading the development. 2016.
  
• Method development and testing continued and a round robin for samples with asphaltenes was completed. Method development work on samples without asphaltenes began. 2017
  
• Round robin for samples with asphaltenes completed in February 2018.
  
• Draft ASTM test method written and submitted to CCQTA project participants for peer review. 2018
  
• Round robin for samples without asphaltenes was completed with results presented at the September 2018 project meeting.
  
• Draft of the CCQTA Compatibility Method has been published in the members area of CCQTA website under the Crude Oil Compatibility project. This is available for CCQTA members wishing to begin implementing the method while the ASTM method goes through the balloting process. 2018
  
• ASTM test method passed to ASTM D02.14 sub-committee (SC) ballot in December 2018. The SC Ballot received a number of comments and method revisions were made to incorporate the feedback.
  
• Revised method was balloted concurrently within SC D02.14 and D02 Main committee ballot in February 2019. Ballot received one negative related to the stated temporary precision. The negative was persuasive therefore the ballot failed.
  
• After discussion with the negative voter it was decided that inclusion of a research report with the data associated with the provisional repeatability stated would satisfy the negative however changing the provisional precision statement requires re-ballot. The research report will be included and the revised method will go to concurrent ballot again in early 2020.
  
• Research report was developed and the associated revisions to the test method were completed. Revised method was submitted to ASTM for concurrent ballot with SC D02.14 and D02 Main Committee in February 2020.
  
• ASTM standard test method D8253-20 was published in July 2020, titled “Determination of the Asphaltene Solvency Properties of Bitumen, Crude Oil, Condensate and/or Related Products for the Purpose of Calculating Stability, Compatibility for Blending, Fouling and Processibility (Manual Microscopy Method)”.
  
• Congratulations to the project team on publishing the ASTM D8253-20 standard test method. Project Team: Parviz Rahimi (Upgrading Solutions), Dave Murray (Omnicon Consultants), Jing Li (Bureau Veritas), Janet Hay (Bureau Veritas) and Branko Banjac (Bureau Veritas).
  
• Several local laboratories in Alberta have set-up this test method. Including Bureau Veritas, Canmet Energy, Innotech Alberta, and the University of Alberta.
  
• ASTM D8253-21 was published in January 2021 with corrections to the calculations in sections 15.1 and 15.3.
  
• A Lunch and Learn series for this project has been developed with the first of two episodes released in early October 2021. The first episode focuses on solubility, stability and blending with a brief overview of the test method.
  
• Project was moved to “Project Maintenance Activities” as opposed to a stand-alone project.
  
• Episode 2 of the Lunch & Learn series for this project has been developed and was released in early of March 2022.
  
• An ILS will need to be organized and run prior to 2025 to establish the precision statements for the method and to keep it on the ASTM books.
  

• ASTM committee D02.14 work item (92117) has been granted and Interlaboratory Study (1960) has been registered for ASTM D8253. Seeking laboratories that are currently running or would be willing to set-up this method to participate in the ILS. So far only 5 labs are available to participate in the ILS. Ideally 10 labs will participate. If you are performing the D8253 method or know of lab(s) that are performing this test, please contact secretary@ccqta.com.