PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I

TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM

Table for division of Petroleum & Related materials into various classes:
Natural materials Manufactured materials Derived materials
Petroleum Wax Oils
Mineral wax Aspalt Resins
Aspalt or bitumen Tar Aspaltenes
Aspaltite Pitc !arbenes
Aspaltoid "#ntetic crude oil !arboids
$ituminous roc%
Natural materials:
Petroleum & te e&uivalent term 'crude oil( cover a wide assortment of materials consistin) of
- mixtures of #drocarbons
- oter compounds containin) variable amounts of sulfur* nitro)en & ox#)en wit var#in)
volatilit#* specific )ravit#* & viscosit#+
- or)anicall# combined metals in eavier oils suc as vanadium & nic%el in amounts upto
tousands of ppm+
Mineral Wax: Tese occur as #ellow,to,dar%,brown* moderatel# ard substances* composed
lar)el# of paraffins fusin) from -./ ! 012./ 34 to as i) as 56/ ! 07.6/ 34+ Associated wit
considerable mineral matter* te# are usuall# found as a fillin) in veins & fissures or as an
interstitial material in porous roc%s+ Also termed as !"erite#+
Aspalt: Native aspalts 0bitumens4 include a variet# of naturall#, occurrin)* reddis brown,to,
blac%* bituminous materials of semisolid viscous,to,brittle caracter wic can exist in nature in a
relativel# 'pure( form or ma# contain up to 6. 8 or more mineral matter+ 3re&uentl#* te aspalt
0bitumen4 is found fillin) pores & crevices of sandstones* limestones* or ar)illaceous sediments*
in wic case te or)anic & associate mineral matrix is %nown as roc% aspalt+
Aspaltite: Tese are a variet# of naturall# occurrin)* dar% brown,to,blac%* solid* & involatile
bituminous substances* wic are differentiated from native aspalts b# teir i) content of
material insoluble in n,pentane 0aspaltene4 & conse&uent i) temperature of fusion 0approx+
ran)e: 116 to 99./ !* 72. to -76/ 34+ Two distinct bitumen t#pes are Gils$ite# & Gra%amite#+
Aspaltoid: Tese are a furter )roup of brown,to,blac%* solid bituminous materials of wic te
members are differentiated from te aspaltites b# teir infusibilit# & low solubilit# in carbon
disulfide+ Te# are also called as aspaltic p#robitumens* as te# decompose on eatin) into
bitumen li%e materials+
$ituminous roc%: Tese are difficult to define precisel# since te or)anic contents of sediments
are i)l# variable wit respect to bot t#pe & amount+ !aracteristicall#* te bituminous material
is found impre)natin) relativel# sallow sand* sandstone* & limestone strata* or as fillin) in veins
& fissures in fractured roc%s+ Deposits of tis t#pe are distributed widel#: te ricer sand &
limestone deposits contain as muc as 7. 8 bituminous material & ave been wor%ed b# minin)
metods for pavin)* floorin)* & roofin) materials+
$ituminous roc%s )enerall# ave a coarse* porous structure wit te bituminous material in te
voids+
An important class of bituminous roc%s is te so,called oil sales+ Tese are ar)illaceous*
laminated sediments of )enerall# i) or)anic content* wic can be termall# decomposed to
#ield appreciable amounts of oil* commonl# referred to as sale oil+
Ma$u&a'ture( materials:
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PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
Wax: Tese are an important constituent of various petroleums+ 'Paraffin Wax( term is used for
te colorless* translucent* i)l# cr#stalline material obtained from te li)t lubricatin) fractions of
paraffinic crude oils 0wax distillates4+ Te commercial products tat melt in te approx+ ran)e of
6. to -6/ ! 017. to 16./ 34 contain mostl# n,paraffins wit some isoparaffins+ Dewaxin) of
eavier fractions leads to semisolid materials %nown as petrolatums & solvent de,oilin) of te
petrolatum or of eav#* wax# residua results in dar%,colored waxes of stic%#* plastic,to,ard
nature+ Altou) amorpous in appearance* tese waxes are actuall# composed of exceedin)l#
fine cr#stals & contain* in addition to n,paraffins* appreciable amounts of isoparaffins & lon) cain
c#clics+ !ommercial )rades ave a m+p+ of ;. to 5./ ! 01-.,156/ 34 ran)e+
<i)l# paraffinic waxes are also produced from peat* li)nite* or sale oil tar* & paraffin waxes
%nown as ceresins* also ma# be prepared from o=ocerite* wic is itself &uite similar in caracter
to waxes from petroleum & is fre&uentl# admixed wit tem+
Aspalt: Te# result from petroleum processin) & teir resemblance to te native aspalts is
&uite remar%able+ >t is now common practice to distin)uis between te two t#pes of aspalts b#
use of te &ualif#in) terms, native & petroleum+ Wen te aspalt is produced simpl# b# deep
distillation of an aspaltic crude* te product is referred to as residual or strai)t,run petroleum
aspalt: if prepared from solvent extraction residues or b# li)t #drocarbon precipitation* or if
blown or oterwise treated* ten te &ualif#in) name sould be )iven as a prefix+
Tar & Pitc: Tars are te result of te destructive distillation of man# bituminous* or oter or)anic*
materials & are brown,to,blac%* oil#* viscous li&uids+ Tar is most commonl# produced from
bituminous coal & also referred to as coal tar+ Te most important factor in determinin) te #ield &
caracter of coal tar is te carboni=in) temperature+ Tree )eneral temperature ran)es are
reco)ni=ed & te products ave ac&uired te desi)nations: low temperature tar 0 approx+ 26. to
;../ !: ?2. to 175./ 34: mid,temperature tar 0 approx+ ;.. to 5../ !: 175. to 1-6./ 34: i),
temperature tar 0 approx+ 5.. to 17../ !: 1-6. to 715./ 34+
Treatment of te distillate of te tar wit caustic soda causes separation of a fraction %nown as tar
acids* wile acid treatment of te distillate produces a wide ran)e of or)anic nitro)en compounds
%nown as tar bases+ Te residue left followin) removal of te eav# oil* or distillate* is pitc* a
blac%* ard* & i)l# ductile material+
"#ntetic !rude Oil: !oal* oil sale* bitumens* & eav# oils 0i+e+ tose petroleums avin) AP>
)ravit# @ 7./4 can be up)raded b# a variet# of processes to produce a mar%etable & transportable
product+ Tese products var# but te principal product is a #drocarbon tat resembles a
conventional crude oil* ence te term s#ntetic crude oil or 's#ncrude(+ Te s#ntetic crude oil
owever it ma# be produced* can actuall# be refined b# te usual refiner# s#stem+
)eri*e( Materials:
Aspaltenes* !arbenes* and !arboids: !ertain solvents dissolve petroleum & oter petroleum,
related products into various fractions tat are sufficientl# distinct in caracter allowin) tem to be
)iven different names+
A t#pical solvent is n,pentane+ Wen petroleum* petroleum residua or bituminous materials are
dissolved in n,pentane* a brown,to,blac%* pulverulent* amorpous material separates out
0insoluble part4 & is desi)nated as aspaltenes+ Tese aspaltenes separated from crude oil
residua & most native aspalts are found to dissolve readil# in ben=ene* carbon disulfide*
cloroform & man# oter clorinated #drocarbon solvents+
<owever* a part of tis insoluble material ma# also not dissolve in some stron) solvents* leadin)
to furter classification+ !arbon disulfide is one suc stron) solvent+ Te residual material
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PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
insoluble in carbon disulfide is desi)nated as 'carboids( & material soluble in carbon disulfide but
insoluble in carbon tetracloride is defined as 'carbenes(+
Resins & Oils: Te n,pentane soluble portion of a petroleum* commonl# %nown as maltenes* can
be furter subdivided b# percolation trou) an# surface active material suc as fullerAs eart or
alumina* to #ield an oil fraction & a more stron)l# adsorbed* deep red to brown semisolid material
%nown as resins+ Tese resins contain considerable amounts of aromatic #drocarbons as well
as some sulfur* ox#)en & nitro)en containin) compounds+ Removal of te resins from te n,
pentane,soluble material leaves te oils* wic ma#* in addition to te #drocarbons present*
ave an appreciable amount of sulfur containin) compounds alon) wit ox#)en & nitro)en based
or)anic compounds+
Resins & oils collectivel# called as maltenes were sometimes also referred to as petrolenes+
<owever current petroleum cemistr# desi)nates te low boilin) 0@9../ !B;-. mm <)4 pentane
soluble material as petrolenes & te i) boilin) 0C9../ !B;-. mm <)4 pentane soluble material
as maltenes+

Tus based on te aforementioned criteria* pentane, soluble portion of undistilled petroleum is
)enerall# a mixture of maltenes & petrolenes+
CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM:
+, Cm-u$( t,-e:
a4 Paraffin $ase: Tis classification was based on te fact tat some petroleum oils separated
paraffin wax on coolin) leadin) to te conclusion* tat tese consisted mainl# of paraffins
0e+)+ metane* etane* propane etc+ wit )eneric formula !n<7nD74+
b4 Aspaltic $ase: Tese were te petroleum oils wic )ave no seperation of paraffin wax on
coolin) a)ain leadin) to te conclusion tat tese predominantl# contained c#clic 0or
naptenic4 #drocarbons+
c4 Mix $ase: Tese petroleum oils leave a mixture of paraffin wax & aspaltic bitumen wen
subEected to nondestructive distillation & ence te name+
d4 <#brid $ase: Tese are basicall# aspaltic oils tat contain a small amount of wax+



Te fi)ure above )ives te classification based on te aforementioned t#pe of petroleum oils+
Page 3 of 8
Paraffinic
Naptenic
Aspaltic Aromatic
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
Crrelati$ I$(e.:
An earl# classification metodolo)# based itself on te &uantum of distillation residue+ >f te
residue contained less tan 7 8 wax tan it was classified as aspaltic+ >f residue contained more
tan 6 8 wax tan it was called paraffinic+ Anoter metodolo)#* su))ested division accordin) to
te cemical composition of te 76. to 9../ ! fraction 0refer table below4+ $ut tis metod
created a difficult#* since* in te fractions boilin) above 7../ ! te molecules can no lon)er be
placed in one )roup because most of tem are of a t#picall# mixed nature+ Purel# naptenic or
aromatic molecules occur ver# seldom: c#clic compounds )enerall# contain paraffinic side,cains
& often even aromatic & naptenic rin)s side b# side+ More direct cemical information is often
desirable & can be supplied b# means of te correlation index+
Tis index* developed b# te F+ "+ $ureau of Mines* is based on te plot of specific )ravit# at
-.B-./ 3 versus te reciprocal of te boilin) point in de)rees Gelvin for pure #drocarbons on
wic te line described b# te constants of te individual members of te normal paraffin series
is )iven a value of !> H .* & a parallel line passin) trou) te point for te values of ben=ene is
)iven as !> H 1..+ 3rom tis plot* te followin) empirical e&uation is derived:
!> H 2;9+;d I 26-+? D 02?-2.BG4
Were G is te avera)e boilin) point* determined b# te $ureau of Mines standard distillation
metod & d is te specific )ravit#+
Te values of te index between . & 16 indicate a predominance of paraffinic #drocarbons in
te fraction: values from 16 to 6. indicate a predominance eiter of naptenes or of mixtures of
paraffins* naptenes* & aromatics: values above 6. indicate te predominant aromatic caracter+
!orrelation >ndex of
Total Distillates $oilin) above Jasoline
>t is also possible to describe a crude oil b# an expression of its cemical composition on te
basis of te correlation index fi)ures for its middle portions+ Te above fi)ure is constructed
based on tis principle+ Te ori=ontal axis represents a pro)ression from paraffinic oils to
aromatic oils wit . representin) n,paraffins & 1.. representin) ben=ene+ Te position of a crude
on tis scale is determined b# te av)+ correlation index for its fractions boilin) between 7../ ! at
atmosperic pressure & 7;6/ ! at 2. mm <)* & te paraffinic* or c#clic nature of te fractions* &
Page 4 of 8
20 30 40 50 60 70
100
0
20
15
10
5
0
0
25
50
75
<i) Paraffins and Naptenes
<i) Aromatics
!arbon Residue in
percent of Residuum*
indicates Aspalt
content
!loud Pt Kacuum
Distillate: >ndicates wax
content
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
tereb#* te nature of te bul% of te crude* are expressed directl#+ Te ei)t of te vertical bar
above te ori=ontal indicates te wax content of te eav# )as oil & li)t lubricatin) fractions of
tat crude &* ence* te cr#stalline wax content of te crude can be assessed+ Te len)t of te
vertical bar below te ori=ontal is a measure of te carbon residue 0!onradson4 of te undistilled
residuum &* tereb# te content of eac crude+ $# combinin) tese indicative properties wit
results of distillation* te petroleum can be classified in terms of composition & application+
+, )e$sit, :
Densit# 0specific )ravit#4 since te earl# times of petroleum processin) as been te principal
metod of classification+ >t is still used as an index for findin) out te proportion of )asoline &
particularl#* %erosene present+ <owever* densit# measurement remained an important criteria for
classification till oter properties of crudes were discovered & came into use+ Nowada#s* it is onl#
one of te various properties for petroleum classification & no clasification is solel# based on
densit#+
Te use of densit# values as been advocated for &uantitative application usin) a sceme based
on te 'American Petroleum >nstitute( 0AP>4 )ravit# of te 76. to 7;6/ ! 01 atm4 & te 7;6 to 9../
! 02. mm <)4 distillation fractions+ "ee table below :
!lassification of Petroleums accordin) to "pecific 0or AP>4 Jravit#
Li)t 0b+ p+ 76.,7;./ !4 fraction <eav# 0b+ p+ 7;6,9../ !4 fraction
!lass AP>M
-./B-./ 3
"p+ Jr+ T#pe AP>
-./ 3
"p+ Jr+
-./B-./ 3
T#pe
Paraffin C 2.+./ @ .+?761 Paraffinic C 9.+./ @ .+?;-7 Paraffinic
Paraffin,
>ntermediate
C 2.+./ @ .+?761 Paraffinic 7.+1/
,75+5/
.+5992 I
.+?;-;
>ntermediate
>ntermediate
,Paraffin
99+1/ ,
95+5/
.+?65; I
.+?76-
>ntermediate C 9.+./ @ .+?;-7 Paraffinic
>ntermediate 99+1/ ,
95+5/
.+?65; I
.+?76-
>ntermediate 7.+1/
,75+5/
.+5992 I
.+?;-;
>ntermediate
>ntermediate
I Naptene
99+1/ ,
95+5/
.+?65; I
.+?76-
>ntermediate @ 7.+./ C .+592. Naptenic
Naptene I
>ntermediate
@ 99+./ C .+?-.7 Naptenic 7.+1/
,75+5/
.+5992 I
.+?;-;
>ntermediate
Naptene @ 99+./ C .+?-.7 Naptenic @ 7.+./ C .+592. Naptenic
Paraffin I
naptene
C 2.+./ @ .+?761 Paraffinic @ 7.+./ C .+592. Naptenic
Naptene I
Paraffin
99+./ C .+?-.7 Naptenic C 9.+./ @ .+?;-7 Paraffinic

Te above table is a ver# compreensive classification & most crude oils found world wide can be
classified as paraffin* intermediate or naptene based as per above table+
<eav# oils are also classified accordin) to a term %nown as 'caracteri=ation )ravit#(* defined as
te 'aritmetic av)+ of te instantaneous )ravities of te distillates boilin) at 1;;/ !* 797/ ! &
7??/ ! vapor line temperature at 76 mm <) pressure in a true boilin) point distillation(+
>n addition* a metod of petroleum classification tat is based on oter properties* as well as te
densit# of selective fractions as been developed+ Te metod consists of a preliminar#
examination of te aromatic content of te fraction boilin) upto 126/ ! as well as tat of te
aspaltene content* followed b# a more detailed examination of te cemical composition of te
napta 0b+p+ @ 7../ !4+ 3or tis anal#sis* a )rap is used wic is a composite of curves
Page 5 of 8
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
expressin) te relation between percenta)e distillate from te napta* te aniline point 0tis is
used to find out te paraffin,naptene ratio4* refractive index* specific )ravit#* & te boilin) point+
Definition of AP> )ravit# : Te followin) e&uation defines AP> )ravit# in de)rees:
De)ress AP> H N121+6B 0sp+ Jr+ -./B -./ 34 O I 191+6
Were sp+ Jr+ >s te specific )ravit# of te oil at -./ B -./ 3 0 16+-/ B 16+-/ !4+
"pecific )ravit# term is used* since it is a ratio of te mass of volume of te substance to te ratio
of te mass of te same volume of water & because te specific )ravit# of water is e&ual to unit#
at e&ual temperatures* sp+ )ravit# becomes a more convenient tool for measurement instead of
absolute densit# wic is directl# a function of te temperature+
"pecific Jravit# or AP> )ravit# is practicall# measured b# means of simple instruments called
#drometers+
+, Car/$ )istri/uti$:
Te distribution accordin) to volatilit# of te various fractions of petroleum is considered te main
propert# for classification & an# fractionatin) column wit sufficient number of teoretical tra#s
ma# be used for )eneratin) a curve in wic te boilin) point of eac fraction is plotted a)ainst
percenta)e b# wei)t+
A metod %nown as te n,d,M metod 0n: refractive index* d: densit#* M: molecular wei)t4
>s used for caracteri=ation of various fractions of petroleum+ Tis metod enables determination
of carbon distribution &* tus* indicates te percenta)e of carbon in aromatic structure 08!A4* te
percenta)e of carbon in naptenic structure 08!N4* & te percenta)e of carbon in paraffinic
structure 08!P4+Te #ield over te various boilin) ran)es can be estimated &* for example* in te
lubricatin) oil fractions te percenta)e of carbon in paraffinic structure can be divided into two
parts* )ivin) te percenta)e of carbon in paraffinic side,cains+ Te percenta)e of normal
paraffins present in lubricatin) oil fractions can be calculated from te percenta)e of normal
paraffinic carbon 08!nP4 b# multiplication b# a factor tat depends on te #dro)en content of te
fractions+ >t ma# also be possible to extrapolate te carbon distribution to te )asoline ran)e on
one and & to te residue on te oter and: a i) value of 8!A at 6../ ! boilin) point indicates
a i) content of aspaltenes in te residue* wereas a i) value of 8!nP at 6../ ! boilin) point
usuall# indicates a wax# residue+
0is'sit,-Gra*it, C$sta$t:
Te viscosit#, )ravit# constant was one of te earl# indexes proposed to caracteri=e 0or classif#4
oil t#pes & is an indication of te paraffinicit# of crude oil+
v)c H N1.d I 1+.;67lo) 0v,9?4O B N1. I lo) 0v I 9?4O
were d is te sp+ )ravit# -./ B -./ 3 & v is te sa#bolt viscosit# a# 9?/ !+ 3or oils so eav# tat
low,temperature viscosit# is difficult to measure* an alternative formula
v)c H Nd,.+72,.+.77lo) 0v I 96+64O B .+;66
as been proposed in wic te 55/ ! sa#bolt viscosit# is used+ Te viscosit# )ravit# constant is
of particular value in indicatin) a predominantl# paraffinic or c#clic composition+ Te lower te
index number* te more paraffinic te stoc%: for example* naptenic lubricatin) oil distillates ave
Page 6 of 8
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
v)c H .+?;- wile raffinate obtained b# solvent distillation of lubricatin) oil distillate as v)c P
.+?2.+
Definition of "a#bolt Kiscosit# in relation to Petroleum: Te "a#bolt universal viscosit# is te time
in seconds re&uired for te flow of -. ml of petroleum from a container* at a constant
temperature* trou) a calibrated orifice+ Te entire apparatus for viscosit# measurement
contains a constant temperature bat & a pre,calibrated capillar# viscometer suc as !annon,
3ens%e* Fbbelode* 3it=simmons* & Qeitfucs & te efflux time of te li&uid from te viscometer
)ives te relative viscosit# measurement+ Te calibration li&uid for te viscometer is a standard
solution of %nown viscosit# & essentiall# all practical viscosit# measurements are relative
measurements usin) a standard* rater tan absolute measurements+
Te relationsip between sa#bolt viscosit# & %inematic viscosit# is expressed b# te e&uation
Ginematic viscosit# H a x "a#bolt sec+ D 0b B "a#bolt sec+4
were a & b are constants+
Te sa#bolt universal viscosit# e&uivalent to a )iven %inematic viscosit# varies sli)tl# wit te
temperature at wic te measurement is made* because te temperature of te calibrated
receivin) flas% used in te sa#bolt metod is not te same as tat of te oil+ A table is used to
convert %inematic viscosities from 7 to ;. centisto%es at 9?/ ! 01../ 34 & 55/ ! 071./ 34 to
e&uivalent sa#bolt universal viscosities in seconds+
Ginematic c"t viscosit#
"a#bolt "ec+
1../ 3 0 9?/ !4 71./ 3 0 55/ !4
7 97+- 97+5
1. 6?+5 65+9
7. 5;+? 5?+6
9. 12.+9 127+9
2. 1?-+9 1?;+-
6. 797+1 799+?
-. 7;?+9 7?.+7
;. 972+2 97-+;
Appropriate multipliers are listed to convert %inematic viscosities over ;. centisto%es 0c"t4+ 3or
%inematic viscosit# determined at an# oter temperature te e&uivalent "a#bolt universal value is
calculated b# use of te "a#bolt e&uivalent at 1../ 3 0 9?/ ! 4 & a multiplier tat varies wit te
temperature:
"a#bolt sec at 1../ 3 0 9?/ ! 4 H c"t x 2+-96
"a#bolt sec at 71./ 3 0 55/ ! 4 H c"t x 2+--;
T%e U$i*ersal Oil Pr(u'ts 1UOP2 C%ara'teri!ati$ &a'tr:
Tis factor is peraps one of te more widel# used of te derived caracteri=ation or classification
factors & is defined b# te formula:
G H 0 T$ 4
1B9
B d
Were 'T$( is te avera)e boilin) point in de)rees Ran%ine & 'd( is te specific )ravit# -./ B -./ 3+
Tis factor as been sown to be additive on a wei)t basis+ >t was ori)inall# devised to sow te
Page 7 of 8
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY- Part I
TERMINOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
termal crac%in) caracteristics of eav# oils: tus* i)l# paraffinic oils ave GP 17+6 to 19+.
wile c#clic 0naptenic4 oils ave GP 1.+6 to 17+6+

CONCLUSION :
All te classification s#stems mentioned above are based on te assumption tat an oil can be
more or less caracteri=ed b# te properties of one or of a few fractions* but te properties of
certain fractions of a crude oil are definitel# not alwa#s reflected in tose of oter fractions of te
same oil+ >t is true tat some crude oils ave a different cemical caracter in low,boilin) & i),
boilin) fractions & an# metod of classification in wic te properties of a certain fraction are
extrapolated to te wole crude oil* must be applied wit caution* as serious errors can arise+
>t is usuall# necessar# to combine a boilin) ran)e anal#sis wit te carbon distribution in te
various fractions to )ain a reasonable perspective of te crude+


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