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Specific Gravity

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9 views2 pages

Specific Gravity

Uploaded by

Luna Mohammed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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General Geology/ II Lecture _ 4 Level / 1

Specific gravity ( SG)

Specific gravity, more formally known as relative density, is a measure of the


density of a substance in comparison to the density of water

The American Petroleum Institute gravity, (or API gravity,)

is a measure of how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared to water: if its


API gravity is greater than 10, it is lighter and floats on water; if less than 10, it is
heavier and sinks. API gravity is thus an inverse measure of a petroleum liquid's
density relative to that of water (also known as specific gravity).

API gravity formulas

The formula to calculate API gravity from Specific Gravity (SG) is:

𝐴𝑃𝐼 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 141.5 / 𝑆𝐺 − 131.5

(Generally speaking, oil with an API gravity between 40 and 45° commands the
highest prices. Above 45°, the molecular chains become shorter and less valuable
to refineries. )
General Geology/ II Lecture _ 4 Level / 1

Crude oil is classified as light, medium, or heavy according to its measured API
gravity:

Light crude oil has an API gravity higher than 31.1° (i.e., less than 870 kg/m3

Medium oil has an API gravity between 22.3 and 31.1° (i.e., 870 to 920 kg/m3)

Heavy crude oil has an has an API gravity below 22.3° (i.e., 920 to 1000 kg/m3)

Extra heavy oil has an API gravity below 10.0° (i.e., greater than ° (i.e., greater
than 1000 kg/m3) However, not all parties use the same grading.

Crude oil with API gravity less than 10° is referred to as extra heavy oil or
bitumen.

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