What Spectroscopic Techniques Are Used in Modern Oil Refining?

In a recent Tutorial Tuesday segment, Janam Pandya (Product Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific) discussed refinery operations in oil and gas, focusing on gasoline blending. He explained that strict regulatory requirements mean blended gasoline must undergo properties analysis before it can be sold commercially.¹ Currently, this relies on a patchwork of real-time, near-time, and laboratory-based analytical methods requiring multiple analyzers and complex sampling, which is a process that can take one to two hours, making it inefficient and difficult to manage.¹

What role does spectroscopy play in modern oil refining?

Spectroscopy allows refiners to monitor feedstock quality, track process performance, and ensure finished products meet regulatory and commercial specifications. By analyzing how crude oil and its derivatives interact with electromagnetic radiation, spectroscopic techniques provide fast, non-destructive insight into complex hydrocarbon mixtures that would otherwise require lengthy wet-chemistry analysis.^2,3 Therefore, spectroscopy plays a vital role across the oil and gas value chain, from upstream exploration to the refining of petroleum products.²

What are the key techniques used in modern oil refinery and oil and gas operations?

There are several spectroscopic techniques used in modern oil operations. These techniques include the following:

1. Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy: This technique is widely used for rapid, real-time monitoring of properties such as octane number, cetane number, and distillation curves directly on process streams, allowing refiners to adjust blending in near real time.² It is often used to conduct bulk analysis and provide fingerprints of organics and gases.²
2. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy: This technique identifies functional groups and contaminants, making it valuable for detecting sulfur compounds, oxidation products, and additive levels in lubricants and fuels.²
3. Raman Spectroscopy: This technique is used in modern oil refinery operations because of its ability to provide real-time measurements. This capability allows for operando (in situ) monitoring, which is particularly useful in manufacturing processes and for observing electrochemical cells within the energy industry.²

Why will spectroscopic techniques continue to be used in oil refinery operations?

Ultimately, the benefits of using spectroscopy in oil refinery operations outweigh the drawbacks. Because spectroscopic techniques can conduct petroleum analysis quickly, this helps refiners reduce the amount of time crude oil can go to market. The result is improved yield and reduced waste, which helps refiners meet the current environmental regulations.

References

1. Pandya, J. An Inside Look at Refinery Operations in the Oil and Gas Industry. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. (accessed July 8, 2026).
2. Wetzel, W. A Beginner’s Guide to Spectroscopy in Energy Applications. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/a-beginner-s-guide-to-spectroscopy-in-energy-applications (accessed July 8, 2026).
3. Lavatti, B. P. O.; Silva, S. R. C.; de A. Portela, N.; Sad, C. M. S.; Rainha, K. P.; Rocha, J. T. C.; Romao, W.; Castro, E. V. R.; Filgueiras, R. Identification of Petroleum Profiles by Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics. Fuel 2019, 254, 115670. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2019.115670