Crude Oil Analysis-- Determining the Properties of Crude Oil
S ummary
Through crude oil analysis, we determine the physical and chemical properties of crude oil and gas condensate produced from a geological formation
several thousand meters underground. These analytical data are used for identifying the output layer, estimating the sedimentary environment andthe origin of the organic matter from the source rocks, evaluating for crude oil processing methods, and checking the quality of oil for commercial
sale and modeling of the reservoir.

ᴾ ᴾ Density

ᴾ ᴾ Kinematic Viscosity

Classification table by crude oil density

Hydrometer

Crude oil density, the density
value at the surface level of theliquid, is measured with ahydrometer at room conditions(temperature and pressure).
Crude oil is classified into fivecategories based on themeasured density (API gravity).

ᴾ ᴾ Sulfur Content

Cl ti Diagram
Dif thd
it andd
Correlationofthe density
kinematic viscosity

Kinematic viscosity is calculated
based on the time it takes forthe crude oil to pass through an
Uberoode viscometer. Usually,
the kinematic viscosity anddensity show a positive
correlation.
Uberoode Viscometer

The pour point is the temperature at which
the crude oil no longer flows. The cloud pointis the temperature at which the crude oil ishazy. The pour point tends to be higher inheavier crude oil.

ᴾ ᴾ Distillation Test

ᴾ ᴾ Components

Automatic Distillation Tester
Sulfur Content Analyzer

Sulfur in crude oil is calculated based on theintensity of the fluorescent X-rays generated
from the sulfur content of a sample comparedto that of a standard sample. Sulfur content
will be higher in heavier crude oil.

ᴾ ᴾ Pour Point & Cloud PointDistillation curves

In a distillation test, the liquefied volume of steam
generated at each temperature by heating thecrude oil in a flask is estimated, and a distillation
curve is obtained from the measured temperature(boiling point) and the amount of liquid. Crude oil canbe separated into petroleum products using thedifferences between these boiling points.

ᴾᴾW
What Can Crude Oil Analyses Tell Us ?
>>㻌 Information about the characteristics of the sourcerock. For example,‫ ؞‬The degradation environment (Low density: hightemperature; high density: microbial degradation, etc.)of the crude oil‫؞‬The depositional environment of the source rock (Highsulfur: Marine)‫؞‬The origin of the organic matter (High wax: land; lowwax: marine)>> This information is used in the selection of enhanced oil
recovery methods, the evaluation of processing equipment,
reservoir fluid modeling, and prediction of production
behavior. For example,䞉 䠰he assessment of standards for separating machines.
>> Information about the quality of commercial oil.
㻌 For example,
䞉The presence of impurities (sulfur, moisture, etc.)
䞉 Petroleum product yields.
䞉Selection of taxable volatile oil.

Automatic pour point, cloud point tester

Distillation gas chromatograph

The components of crude oil are analyzed
using gas chromatography and are qualified
and quantified as saturated hydrocarbon
components (C3–120).

Key Points
Crude oil properties are estimated from crude oil analysis and areused for exploration, development, production and sales of crude
oil as follows:(1) Density : Used in crude oil classification, weight and volumeconversion.
(2) Kinematic Viscosity : An important property that indicatesliquidity. Used to calculate flow rate calculations in pipelines
and reservoir fluid behavior.
(3) Pour point & cloud point : Pour point is the minimum
temperature of flow, and cloud point is the temperature atwhich wax begins to precipitate.
(4) Sulfur Content : Sulfur causes air pollution and pipe quality
decline and corrosion. Used in quality control and evaluation of
the depositional environment of source rocks.
(5) Distillation Test : Used to estimate the components of crude
oil based on differences in boiling points.
(6) Components : Crude oil consists of multiple hydrocarbons; its
components differ by reservoir and are used in reservoir fluid
modeling.

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