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LEC.4

The document discusses the physical and chemical properties of crude oil, focusing on mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. Key mechanical properties include density, viscosity, and surface tension, while thermal properties cover cloud point, pour point, freezing point, and melting point. Optical properties include boiling point, vapor pressure, flash point, and octane number, which are essential for understanding petroleum behavior and performance in various conditions.

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Mariam Jabor
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7 views

LEC.4

The document discusses the physical and chemical properties of crude oil, focusing on mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. Key mechanical properties include density, viscosity, and surface tension, while thermal properties cover cloud point, pour point, freezing point, and melting point. Optical properties include boiling point, vapor pressure, flash point, and octane number, which are essential for understanding petroleum behavior and performance in various conditions.

Uploaded by

Mariam Jabor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Chapter 2: Physical and Chemical Properties of Crude Oil.


A- Mechanical properties : ( Density , Viscosity , Surface tension )
1- Density : Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Density is a state
function depends on both temperature and pressure . Liquid densities decrease
as temperature increases but the effect of pressure on liquid densities at
moderate pressures is usually negligible. Liquid density for hydrocarbons is
usually reported in terms of specific gravity (SG) or relative density defined as

density of liquid at temperature T


SG =
density of water at temperature T

Since the standard conditions adopted by the petroleum industry are 60 oF (15.5
o
C) and 1 atm, specific gravities of liquid hydrocarbons are normally reported at
these conditions. At a reference temperature of 60oF (15.5oF) the density of
liquid water is 0.999 g/cm3 (999 kg/m 3). Therefore, for a hydrocarbon or a
petroleum fraction , the specific gravity is defined as :

density of petroleum at 60 oF in g/cm3


SG (60oF/ 60oF ) =
0.999 g/cm3

Water density at 60oF is 0.999 or almost 1 g/cm3; therefore, values of specific


gravities are nearly the same as the density of liquid at 15.5 oC in g/cm3. The
specific gravity is useful in terms of API gravity, characterization factor and
indication of fluid flow of petroleum.
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

2- Viscosity:
Is a measurement for internal friction coefficient for two liquid ( oil )
layers each areas are 1 m2. It is needed in calculation of power required in
mixers or to transfer a fluid, the amount of pressure drop in a pipe or column,
flow measurement devices.

Types of viscosity:

1- Dynamic viscosity ( μ ) with units ( poise or g / ( cm · s) ).

2- Kinematic viscosity ( υ ) with unit ( stoke or cm2 / s ).

Kinematic viscosity is defined as the ratio of absolute viscosity (dynamic) to


absolute density ( ρ ) at the same temperature in the following form:

υ = μ /ρ

The kinematic viscosity can be measurement by viscometer ( U-tube device ) by


following equation :

U- tube viscometer
υ =c.t
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

where :

υ : kinematic viscosity ( St. )

c : viscometer constant ( mm2/s2 ) .

t : time required to passing the oil through the limited marks in


viscometer ( s ) .
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

3 - Surface tension or interfacial tension ( IFT ) :

Is a measurement of a tensile force between molecules at the separator


surface between tow states of substance ( solid – liquid , liquid – gas ).
Volatility of petroleum fractions is increasing with surface tension decreasing.
So the gasoline is highly volatility because low surface tension.

B - Thermal properties :

1- Cloud Point ( Tc ) :

The cloud point is the lowest temperature at which wax crystals begin
to form by a gradual cooling under standard conditions. As temperature
decreases below the cloud point, formation of wax crystals is accelerated.
Therefore, low cloud point products are desirable under low-temperature
conditions.

2- Pour Point ( Tp ):

The pour point of a petroleum fraction is the lowest temperature at


which the oil will pour or flow when it is cooled without stirring under standard
cooling conditions. Pour point is one of low temperature characteristics of heavy
fractions. When temperature is less than pour point of a petroleum product it
cannot be stored or transferred through a pipeline.

3- Freezing Point:

Freezing point is the temperature at which liquid solidifies at 1 atm


pressure.

4- Melting Point ( TM ) :

Melting point is the temperature that a solid substance liquefies at 1


atm. The melting point increases with molecular weight increases.
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

C- Optical properties:

1- Boiling point :

The boiling point of a pure compound at a given pressure is the


temperature at which vapor and liquid exist together at equilibrium. If the
pressure is 1 atm, the boiling point is called the normal boiling point . At this
temperature the vapor pressure will equal to atm pressure.

2- Vapor Pressure ( Pvap ) :

In a closed container, the vapor pressure of a pure compound is the force


exerted per unit area of walls by the vaporized portion of the liquid. Vapor
pressure can also be defined as a pressure at which vapor and liquid phases of a
Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

pure substance are in equilibrium with each other. Vapor pressure increases with
temperature. The vapor pressure is also called saturation pressure, psat.

3- Flash Point ( TF ) :

Flash point of petroleum fractions is the lowest temperature at which


vapors arising from the oil will ignite, i.e. flash, when exposed to a spark or
flame under specified conditions. Therefore, the flash point of a fuel indicates
the maximum temperature that it can be stored without serious fire hazard.

4- Octane number:

Octane number defined is a measure of fuel's ability to resist auto-


ignition during compression and prior to ignition to prevent the anti-knock
characteristic.

Higher octane number fuels have better engine performance so high


octane number fuels are more desirable. Generally iso paraffins have higher
octane number than do normal paraffins. Naphthenes have relatively higher
octane number than do corresponding paraffins and aromatics have very high
octane numbers.

The octane number of a fuel can be improved by adding tetraethyl- lead


(TEL) (CH3CH2)4Pb ) or methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE)

methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE).

REASERCH OCTANE NUMBER OF PURE HYDROCARBONS


Properties of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Paraffins ON Iso Paraffins ON Olefins ON Naphthenes ON Aromatics ON


n-butane 94 Iso butane 102 n-butene 99
n-pentane 62 i-pentane 92 n-pentene 90 Cyclo 100
pentane
n-hexane 25 i-hexane 76 n-hexene 90 Cyclo hexane 91 benzene 103

A > N > O > Iso P > P

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