ASSIGNMENT 1

CRUDE OIL ASSAY

ChE 475 PETROLEUM PROCESSING


GROUP MEMBERS:
EZZAH AZWANY KHAIRUL NASIR 7D9B6813 / 15103897
FABLIHA BUSHRA KHAN RUPANTI 7E2A9865 / 16324356
NADIRA AKMEL ZURIN 7D9B6814 / 15103570





Study of Assay: Eocene crude oil is produced from the Wafra, South Umm Gudair and South
Fawaris fields in the Partitioned Zone situated between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Its typical
cargo size ranges between 300 thousand to 1 million barrels (Chevron 2014). As per Eocenes
Whole Crude oil properties (Appendix B), Eocene falls within the heavy crude oil range with an
API gravity of 18.29. It is a high sulphur crude oil thus classified as sour crude with a sulphur
content of 4.57 wt%. Eocene is also low in nitrogen, with low acidity and low asphaltenes and
has relatively low metals in their residue. The crude oil is produced under Chevron and is
suitable for coking and asphalt manufacture. The relatively shallow depth of heavy oil fields
(less than 3000 feet) can contribute to lower production cost (Society of Exploration
Geophysicists 2008).
Standard Procedures for Characterisation: The test methods related to petroleum and
products are designated a number and standard organisation initials (Appendix C).
API Gravity: API Gravity measures the density of crudes by determining the weight of crude oil
per unit volume at 60
o
F. It is normally measured using the Hydrometer method ASTM D 287.
K Factor: The factor Watson or UOP used to measure the aromatic or aliphatic nature of
petroleum. It is tested by UOP 375. (Ante 2013)
Sulphur: The crude oil sulphur content ranges from 0.1-5.0-wt %.It is normally measured by x-
ray techniques such as ASTM D 4294 or D 5291.Samples with sulfur contents greater than 5.0 %
are measured by a combustion technique (ASTM D 1552). For extremely low levels an
ultraviolet fluorescence technique (ASTM D 5453) is employed. (Ante 2013)
Pour Point: The lowest temperature at which hydrocarbon fraction is observed to pour when
cooled under prescribed conditions. Most frequent method- ASTM D 97 (Ante 2013). A new
method is used for pour points greater than -36
o
C (ASTM D 5853). For fractions that contain
wax (ASTM D 5949) utilizing phase technology is used.
Acid Number: Normally expressed as Neutralization method it predicts the acidity of an oil
distillate faction. Industry standard for this test is based on ASTM D 667 (Ante 2013).
MCR, wt%: Micro Carbon Residue of crude is proportional to asphalt content and tested by
Conradson Carbon ASTM D 189 (Ante 2013).
Metals wt%: Low concentration of certain elements like nickel and vanadium can severely
affect catalyst activity. It is determined by ICPCES (Ante 2013).
Viscosity: Measurement follows guidelines of ASTM D445 and has unit centistoke (cST).
Characteristics Significance: The crude oil Eocene is a heavy sour crude oil and Figure 1
shows the general refinery process it undergoes. Crude oil Eocene has the highest yield of cut for
atmospheric residue. This calls for the need of atmospheric distillation unit and a fluidized
catalytic cracking (FCC) unit to refine the atmospheric residue. Second highest yield of cut is
vacuum residue; hence a deasphalting unit is included to extract asphalt from the vacuum
residue. This crude oil is heavy as its gravity API is low at 18.29 (Doctor and Mustafa 2004). It
contains significant amount of asphaltenes (American Petroleum Institute 2011) which causes
high viscosity thus reducing the pipe flow area (Idris and Okoro 2013) and lowers the throughput
volumes in transportation (ConocoPhillips 2014). The crude oil can be upgraded by steam
injection to reduce viscosity (Canadian Natural 2014) or by diluting the heavy oil using lighter
hydrocarbons (Bjornseth 2013). Eocene is a sour crude oil with high sulfur content that degrades
the catalyst in FCC process. Thus a desulfurization unit is installed before the FCC unit (The
International Council of Clean Transportation 2011). The vanadium and nickel present in the
crude oil are poisonous to catalysts (Hamilton, Mcilvried and Sebulsky 1971) hence the Demet
process is included to treat the catalyst by recycling the catalyst through a metals-removal system
(Elvin and Pavel 1991). The Eocene crude oil contains a total of 1889.94ppm of nitrogen. High
amount of nitrogen would cause catalyst poisoning, corrosion and gum or colour formation in the
final products (Conceio et al., 2009; Crude Oil Quality Group, 2004). It is advisable that a
hydrotreating unit is installed in order to remove most of the nitrogen in the Eocene. Moreover,
the Eocene has an acid number of 0.20mg KOH/g oil. According to Digital Refining (2011), a
high total acid number (TAN) crude oil has the acid number of > 0.5mg KOH/g oil. Therefore,
the Eocene is in fact a low TAN crude oil which would not pose a huge risk to the processes.
This is because a high TAN crude oil would likely result in high-temperature corrosion that
would affect the distillation units as well as difficulties with the wastewater treatment (Digital
Refining, 2011). The Eocene has a pour point of -32.02C in which the pour point is considered
normal as the range is usually from 52C to -60C, according to Hyne (2001). Based on that, the
Eocene would not experience any restrictions in flowing in atmospheric temperatures and also
heating and cooling at high and low temperatures, respectively. Furthermore, the characteristic
factor (K factor) of the Eocene crude oil indicates that it is a naphthenic base crude oil as it has a
value of 11.72, which is within the range of 11.4 to 11.8 (Rand, 2003). Generally, it will produce
a moderate amount of gasoline yields compared to the paraffinic and aromatic base crude oil.
APPENDIX A
Reference List
American Petroleum Institute. 2011. High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical Challenge
Program. http://www.epa.gov/hpv/pubs/summaries/crdoilct/c14858ca.pdf (accessed on
March 14, 2014).
American Petroleum Institute. 2011. High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical Challenge
Program. http://www.epa.gov/hpv/pubs/summaries/crdoilct/c14858ca.pdf (accessed on
March 14, 2014).
Ante, Jukic. "Faculty of Chemical engineering Technology: Crude Oil Properties." Faculty of
Chemical Engineering Technology . 2013.
http://www.fkit.unizg.hr/_download/repository/PRPP_2013_Crude_oil_properties.pdf
(accessed March 19, 2014).
Bjornseth, F. 2013. Heavy Oil Production Technology Challenges of the Effect of Nano ized
Metal on the Viscoity of Heavy Oil. www.diva-
portal.org/smash/get/diva2:649728/FULLTEXT01.pdf (accessed on March 14, 2014).
Canadian Natural. 2014. Thermal In Situ Oil Sands. https://www.cnrl.com/operations/north-
america/north-american-crude-oil-and-ngls/thermal-insitu-oilsands/ (accessed on March
14, 2013).
Chevron. Chevron Crude Oil Marketing. 2014.
http://crudemarketing.chevron.com/crude/middle_eastern/eocene.aspx (accessed March
19, 2014).
Conceio, L., J. V. Oliviera, W. F. Souza and S. B. C. Pergher. 2009. Removal of Nitrogen
Compounds From Brazilian Petroleum Samples By Oxidation Followed By Liquid-
Liquid Extraction. 3(4):160.
www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg/index.php/bjpg/article/download/105/96 (accessed on March
19, 2014).
ConocoPhillips. 2014. Heavy Oil Drag Reducing Agent (DRA).
http://www.api.org/meetings/topics/pipeline/upload/joey_pierce_presentation_final.pdf
(accessed on March 14, 2014).
Crude Oil Quality Group. 2004. Crude Oil Contaminants and Averse Chemical Components
and Their Effect On Refinery Operations. http://www.coqa-
inc.org/Components%20Paper.pdf (accessed on March 19, 2014).
Digital Refining. 2011. Processing High TAN Crude: Part 1.
http://www.digitalrefining.com/article/1000524,Processing_high_TAN_crude__part_I.ht
ml#.UypdrYW0fZA (accessed on March 19, 2014).
Doctor, H. V. and H.D. Mustafa. 2004. Innovative Refining Technology-Crude Oil Quality
Improvement.
http://www.bunkerworld.com/forum/view_attachment.html?psn=3&tid=642 (accessed on
March 14, 2014).
Elvin, Frank J. and Stephen K. Pavel. 1991. Metals Removal of FCC Catalyst Operating in
Refinery. http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-89/issue-29/in-this-
issue/drilling/metals-removal-of-fcc-catalyst-operating-in-refinery.html (accessed on
March 14, 2014).
Hamilton, Harry A, Howard G Mcilvried and Raynor T Sebulsky. 1971. Catalytic removal of
vanadium and nickel from oils. US Patent US3553106 A, filed June 28, 1968 and issued
January 5, 1971.
Hyne, N. J. 2001. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and
Production 2
nd
Edition: Chapter 1 The Nature of Gas Oil. 5. PennWell Corporation.
United States of America.
Idris, Mohammed and Linus N. Okoro. 2013. A review on the effects of asphaltenes on
petroleum processing. eurchembull.com/index.php/ECB/article/view/255/285 (accessed
on March 14, 2014).
Rand, S. J. 2003. Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products: 7
th
Edition. 54. ASTM
International, West Consholocken, PA. Bridgeoport, NJ.
Society of Exploration Geophysicists. " Special Section - Heavy Oil." The Leading Edge, 2008:
8-9.
The International Council of Clean Transportation. 2011. An Introduction to Petroleum
Refining and the Production of Ultra Low Sulfur Gasoline and Diesel Fuel.
http://www.theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/ICCT05_Refining_Tutorial_FINA
L_R1.pdf (accessed on March 14, 2014).
















APPENDIX B
Eocene crude oil assay
a) Whole crude oil properties
Table 1. Whole crude oil properties (Chevron 2014)
Parameters Values
Gravity, API 18.29
Gravity SG 0.94
Sulfur, wt% 4.57
Total Nitrogen, ppm 1889.94
Acid Number, mg KOH/g 0.20
Pour Point, C -32.02
Charact. Factor (K-FACTOR) 11.72
Viscosity, cSt at 40C (104F) 160.37
Viscosity, cSt at 50C (122F) 92.69
Vanadium, ppm 59.08
Nickel, ppm 21.43
MCR, wt% 10.44
Ramsbottom Carbon, wt% 9.80
Asphaltenes, (H.C7) wt% 6.44
b) Summary of major cuts
Table 2. Summary of major cuts (Chevron 2014)


Whole
Crude
Light
Naphtha
Medium
Naphtha
Heavy
Naphtha
Kero
Atm
Gas Oil
Light
VGO
Heavy
VGO
Vacuum
Resid
Atm
Resid
TBP Temp At Start, C Start 10 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 340
TBP Temp At End, C End 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 End End
TBP Temp At Start, F Start 55 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 650
TBP Temp At End, F End 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 End End
Yield at Start, vol% 0.7 3.1 8.1 13.1 19.7 31.7 48.9 65.5 31.7
Yield at End, vol% 3.1 8.1 13.1 19.7 31.7 48.9 65.5 100.0 100.0
Yield of Cut (wt% of
Crude)
1.7 4.0 4.1 5.8 11.2 16.9 16.9 39.0 72.8
Yield of Cut (vol% of
Crude)
2.4 5.1 4.9 6.6 12.1 17.1 16.6 34.5 68.3
Gravity, API 18.3 82.5 58.7 46.7 37.6 30.5 20.6 16.1 1.1 9.1
Specific Gravity 0.94 0.66 0.74 0.79 0.84 0.87 0.93 0.96 1.07 1.01
Sulfur, wt% 4.57 0.53 0.34 0.30 0.89 2.36 3.81 4.22 7.35 5.80
Mercaptan Sulfur, ppm 772 361 21 28
Nitrogen, ppm 1890 0 0 0 0 51 583 1275 4025 2589
Hydrogen, wt% 16.2 14.7 13.7 13.3 12.7 12.0 11.5
Viscosity @ 40 C
(104 F), cSt
160.37 0.42 0.60 1.00 1.76 4.35 30.23 4.90E+02 2.E+08 9.67E+03
Viscosity @ 50 C
(122 F), cSt
92.69 0.39 0.55 0.88 1.50 3.48 19.88 2.45E+02 3.E+07 3.96E+03
Viscosity @ 100 C
(212 F), cSt
14.04 0.31 0.39 0.56 0.83 1.49 4.68 2.36E+01 4.E+04 1.78E+02
Viscosity @ 135 C
(275 F), cSt
6.18 0.28 0.34 0.45 0.63 0.99 2.44 8.88E+00 2.E+03 4.73E+01
Freeze Point, C 48 -109 -97 -81 -66 -31 4 27 63 53
Freeze Point, F 118 -165 -142 -113 -87 -24 39 80 145 128
Pour Point, C -32 -108 -98 -84 -69 -39 -3 28 89 10
Pour Point, F -26 -163 -144 -119 -91 -39 27 82 193 50
Smoke Point, mm 3 34 29 23 18 13 8 4 1 2
(ASTM)
Aniline Point, C 70 72 53 52 56 59 66 76 81 76
Aniline Point, F 159 161 127 126 134 138 150 170 178 169
Total Acid Number,
mg KOH/g
0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Cetane Index, ASTM
D4737
40 42 48
Diesel Index 29 133 74 59 50 42 31 27 2 15
Characterization
Factor (K Factor)
11.7 12.6 11.9 11.8 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.7 11.5 11.6
Research Octane
Number, Clear
78.0 65.8 36.6
Motor Octane Number,
Clear
76.0 65.4
Paraffins, vol% 87.8 50.8 27.9 26.7
Naphthenes, vol% 12.2 39.0 46.6 47.3
Aromatics, vol% 0.0 10.2 25.0 25.5
Thiophenes, vol%
Molecular Weight 387 103 117 145 173 221 306 457 964 549
Gross Heating Value,
MM BTU/bbl
6.15 4.82 5.28 5.55 5.75 5.89 6.09 6.21 6.49 6.34
Gross Heating Value,
kcal/kg
10326 11566 11267 11094 10903 10697 10395 10289 9653 9999
Gross Heating Value,
MJ/kg
43.2 48.4 47.1 46.4 45.6 44.8 43.5 43.0 40.4 41.8
Heptane Asphaltenes,
wt%
6.4 16.5 8.8
Micro Carbon Residue,
wt%
10.4 25.9 14.3
Ramsbottom Carbon,
wt%
9.8 24.4 13.5
Vanadium, ppm 59 151 81
Nickel, ppm 21 55 29
Iron, ppm 7 18 10

c) Distillation Summary
Table 3. Distillation summary (Chevron 2014)
Whole Light Medium Heavy Kero Atm Light Heavy Vacuum Atm
Crude Naphtha Naphtha Naphtha Gas Oil VGO VGO Resid Resid
TBP Temp At Start, C 10 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 340
TBP Temp At End, C 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 End End
TBP Temp At Start, F 55 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 650
TBP Temp At End, F 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 End End
Yield at Start, vol% 0.7 3.1 8.1 13.1 19.7 31.7 48.9 65.5 31.7
Yield at End, vol% 3.1 8.1 13.1 19.7 31.7 48.9 65.5 100.0 100.0
Yield of Cut (wt% of Crude) 0.4 2.1 6.1 10.2 16.1 27.2 44.1 61.0 27.2
Yield of Cut (vol% of Crude) 2.1 6.1 10.2 16.1 27.2 44.1 61.0 100.0 100.0
TBP Distillation, vol%
C Start 10 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 340
C 5% 28 90 153 203 264 346 456 583 363
C 10% 28 90 156 207 269 351 461 597 385
C 30% 36 101 167 220 285 373 484 659 473
C 50% 60 118 177 232 301 396 507 734 567
C 70% 63 126 187 244 317 418 531 828 691
C 90% 69 143 196 255 332 439 557 969 887
C 95% 72 146 198 257 336 445 563 1023 968
C End 80 150 200 260 340 450 570 End End
TBP Distillation, vol%
F Start 55 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 650
F 5% 82 190 306 406 508 660 859 1074 690
F 10% 82 194 312 411 516 670 869 1099 731
F 30% 97 214 334 433 547 711 907 1211 888
F 50% 141 242 354 453 577 751 945 1346 1055
F 70% 146 258 373 472 607 791 985 1518 1280
F 90% 156 287 391 491 636 831 1028 1773 1631
F 95% 161 294 396 495 643 840 1039 1872 1775
F End 175 300 400 500 650 850 1050 End End

APPENDIX C
Abbreviations and Acronyms for organisations
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania,
USA
ICPCES Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (Knovel Corporation 2013)
UOP UOP (formerly Universal Oil Products), Des Plaines, Illinois, USA















APPENDIX D
Figure 1. Schematic flowchart of a refinery
(The International Council of Clean Transportation 2011)