ADVANCED PETROLEUM REFINING

ENGINEERING
7204CHE-4
by
Professor Hamed Nasser Ben Harharah
Chemical Engineering Departments
In
Engineering Faculty - King Khalid University
&
Faculty Engineering and Petroleum-

1445
Classifications and Evaluation
of crude oils
Types and Classifications of crude oils :
The classification of petroleum helps to determine either of the:
a) Refining direction.
b) Types of products.
c) Quality of products.
Based on what we studied of the chemical composition and physical
properties of petroleum and its derivatives, we conclude that the types and
grades (classifications) of crude oil depend on:
1) Chemical Structure.
2) Physical Properties.
3) Geographical Locations.
Types of Classifications of Petroleum:
1. Chemical Classification.
2. Physical Classification.
3. Geographical Classification.
Chemical Classification:
Chemical classification relates to the Chemical molecular structures and
proportions of these structures. Therefore, terms chemical classifications of
crude oil as the following:
1) Paraffin base crude oil.
2) Naphthenic base crude oil.
3) Mixed base crude oil.
4) Aromatic base crude oil.
1)Paraffinic base crude:
1. The ratio of paraffinic hydrocarbons ˃ aromatics and naphthenes.
2. A density is between 0.81- 0.83 g/cm3.
3. It produces a major quantity of fuel.
4. Its kerosene fraction and lube oils are high quality, but gasoline is low
quality.
5. The residue contains a major quantity of wax.
2)Naphthenic base crude ≡ Asphaltic base crude:
1. The ratios of naphthenic and aromatic ˃ paraffinic groups.
2. A density is between 0.86-0.955 g/cm3.
3. Its fuel products are medium quantity.
4. Its gasoline is high quality, but the Lube oils are Lower quality, therefore
need more purification treatments.
5. The residue contains a major quantity of asphalt.
3)Mixed Base Crude ≡ Intermediate base crude:
1. The ratios of paraffinic wax and asphaltic substances are equal.
2. A density is between 0.835- 0.855 g/cm3.
3. It produces little quantity of fuel.
4. Quality of all products is middle.
5. Its gasoline, kerosene& diesel fractions characterize by paraffinic, while the
heavy fractions with naphthenic character.
6. The residue contains major quantity of asphalt.
 Table1. Characteristics of crude Oil

Property Paraffin Base Crude Naphthene Base Crude

API –degree high low
Gasoline Yield high low
% of paraffin in gasoline >50 <20
% of paraffin in kerosene high low
H/C ratio high low
O.N. Benzine fuel. Low high
C.N. of Diesel fuel high low
Smell of Benzine fuel Non Reek
S.P. of Kerosene fuel High Low
Yield of lube oil high low
P. P. of Lube Oils high low
VI of Lube Oil High Low
S. Content Low High
Yield of Asphalt Low High
Color Light Dark
Odor Sweet Pungent
Freezing point high low
Physical Classification of crude oil:
Physical classification of petroleum is based on:
1. Density or Specific gravity
2. API Gravity
3. Sulfur Content
4. Paraffin Content
5. Light Products content
6. Lube Oils content
7. Asphaltenes content
8. Pour Point

Mallison classification according to residuum

(Asphaltenes):
1. Residue > 50% paraffins Paraffinc base
2. Residue 20-50% paraffins Mixed base
3. Residue < 20% paraffins Asphaltic base
 Table arranges Physical Classifications

Physical S Paraffi Light Lube Asphalten

Classifi. S.G. API % n Product Oils e
% % % %
Lane & Commercial Technology
classifier Garton Classif. classif. - - - -
classif.
Light ≤0.5
Crude ≤0.828 ≥35 Sweet ≥60 ≥45 ≥25 ≤8
Oil Crude
Mediu
m 0.828- 28-35 0.51– 2.0 15.1 – 30-45 15-25 8-25
Crude 0.884 60
Oil
Heavy 2.0% ≤ 15
Crude ≥0.884 ≤28 Sour Crude ≤30 ≤15 ≥25
Oil

Note :
• Most crudes fall in the range 20 to 45°API.
• API degree & Sulfur content have a significant impact on the value and
price of crude oil.
Currently consider that crude oil with an API higher than 31.1 (bellow than
870 kg/m3) call light crude, and less than 22.3 (high than 920Kg/m³) is
heavy. while, crude between 40-45 evaluates - the highest prices. In
additional to the above, any crude oil get less than 10 API call Extra Heavy.
While the above 45 °API the molecular chains become shorter and less
valuable to refineries.

Geological Classification:
The geographic location is important because it affects transportation costs
to the refinery. Also It is called Industrial Classification:
1. West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTIC).
2. Brent Blend Crude (BBC).
3. OPEC Basket Crude (OBC).
West Texas Intermediate (WTI):
This crude is found in Texas and Mexico.
1. It is known as Texas Light Sweet Crude.
2. The sulfur content is 0.24%
3. The API is 39.6 degrees.
4. It is ideal for the production of gasoline due to its low sulfur.
5. It is lighter than Brent crude.
Brent Blend Crude (BBC):
This crude is found in Brent and Ninian in North Sea.
a. It is known as Brent Sweet Light Crude.
b. The sulfur content is 0.37%
c. The API gravity around 38.5
d. Suitable for the production of gasoline and lubes.
e. Light but not as light as the West Texas Crude.
OPEC Reference Basket:
The OPEC Basket, including a mix of light and heavy crude oil
products, is heavier than both Brent crude oil, and West Texas
Intermediate crude oil.
1. Saharan Blend Algeria light crude API 45.3 & sulfur level 0.1%
2. Murban UAE crude API 39.8 & Sulfur level 0.82%
3. Es Sider Libya light Crude API 36,71 and sulfur lever 0,37%
4. Rabi Light Gabon crude API 35.5 & S. level 0.11&
5. Bonny Light Nigeria API 35.4 & sulfur level of 0.14%.
6. Arab Light (Saudi Arabia) API 37 & sulfur level of 1.08%.
7. Basra Light crude API 33.45 & sulfur level % 1.3
8. Girassol Angola crude API 30 & S. level 0.35%
9. Qatar Marine crude API 35.3 & S. level 1.57%
10. Oriente Ecuador crude API 29.9 & S. level 1.1%
11. Iran Heavy Crude API about 30 And sulfur 1.99%
12. Kuwait Export Crude API 30.6 & sulfur level 2.52%
13. Merey Venezuela crude API 16 & Sulfur level 2.5%
EVALUATION OF CRUDE OIL QUALITY
The evaluation is helping in:
1- the pricing of crude oil
2- selection of the refining processes as atmospheric distillation &
vacuum distillation
3- selection of the outcomes (products)
To evaluate, should know the characteristics of:
Naphtha fraction:
density, naphthenes and arene content, octane number, sulfur and
metal as lead and arsenic content, affecting isomerization and
reforming plants operation;
Kerosene fraction:
density, sulfur, pour point, smoke point, arene content (for aviation
fuel); viscosity;
Diesel fraction:
density, sulfur, arene content, cetane index, pour point, low-
temperature properties & viscosity;
Heavy gas oil:
“Кw” factor or hydrogen content, nitrogen and Conradson carbon
quality characteristics of this fraction as feed for Fluid Catalytic Cracking
and other conversion processes;
AR, VGO & VR:
Density, pour point, sulfur, viscosity, metals for fuel oil blending; “Кw”
factor or content of hydrogen, nitrogen, and conradson carbon content
as suitability criteria for conversion processing (Fluid Catalytic Cracking
and Hydrocracking).
There are basically four types of crude available to refiners around the world:
1. light-sweet, low sulfur S ≤ 0.5 %wt., 30 - 40 API.
2. light-sour, sulfur S= 0, 5 - 1.5 %wt., 30-40 API.
3. heavy-sour, high sulfur S=1.5-3.1%wt., 15-30 API.
4. extra-heavy, high sulfur S ≥3 %wt., API≤ 15.
The Conclusions of Evaluation:
1- The high-quality crude oils (low density and low sulfur content) are
characterized by:
a. light fractions high content,
b.diesel fractions high cetane index,
c. vacuum gas oils high Kw -factor
d.vacuum residue fractions low Conradson carbon content (CCC).
2. Low quality crude oils (high density and high sulfur content) are characterized
by:
a. light fractions low content,
b.diesel fractions low cetane index,
c. vacuum gas oils low K-factor
d.vacuum residue fractions high CCC.
3. The difference between the high-quality and low-quality crude oils increases
with the crude oils price growth.
4. At high crude oil prices the most profitable will be refineries having available
heavy petroleum residues conversion plants that allow them to process low
quality crude oils to high valuable transport fuels.
5. It is proved that high acid crude oil diesel fractions have low cetane index
Table shows some properties of some crudes & its cuts. WTI = West Texas
crude WTI BR REB AL AM AH Intermediate
API 40.8 38.3 31.8 33-37 28.5 27.4 BR = Brent Blend (North sea)
Sulfur content, % wt
Pour Point, °C
0.34
-29
0.40
-42
1.53
-12
1.1-1.8 2.85
-54 -23
2.8
-45
REB = Russian Export Blend
CCR, % wt 1.1 2.1 3.9 3.6 5.9 6.8 (Russia)
Acid number, mg KOH/g 0.1 0.1 0.56 0.0 0.06 0.1 AL = Arab Light (Saudi
IBP 70-100 °C 5.2 5.4 3.3 3.4 2.9 2.4 Arabia)
Density, g/cm³ 0.712 0.719 0.703 0.703 0.704 0.705 AM = Arab Medium (Saudi
Sulfur content, % wt 0.027 0.001 0.013 0.025 0.025 0.013 Arabia)
RON 62.8 62.5 50.9 52 51.5 47
aromatics, % V/V 4.3 9.6 3.7 6.5 6.6 4.4 AH = Arab Heavy (Saudi
IBP100-190°C 21.6 17.3 13.0 14.6 11.4 10.3 Arabia).
Density, g/cm³ 0.766 0.774 0.746 0.757 0.765 0.754
Sulfure content, % wt 0.044 0.002 0.053 0.047 0.111 0.108
RON 50.6 43.2 39.2 33.3 38.9 23
aromatics, % V/V 13.2 17.5 11.7 15.8 16.4 12.4
IBP190-235°C 9.0 6.8 7.4 8.1 7.3 6.4
Density, g/cm³ 0.811 0.812 0.812 0.8 0.802 0.80
Sulfur content, % wt 0.088 0.012 0.211 0.252 0.421 0.428
Smoke Point, mm 24 20 22 23 22 24
Pour point, °C -54 -54 -67 -44 -48 -41
aromatics, % V/V 13.7 22 21.8 22.2 22.1 19.7
IBP235-280°C 8.8 9.1 7.7 8.2 7.5 6.7
Density, g/cm³ 0.831 0.832 0.837 0.826 0.830 0.83
Sufur content, S% wt 0.17 0.070 0.61 0.74 0.97 0.9
Cetane Index 45.1 44.3 44.9 49.6 49 49.7
Pour Point, °C -12 -16 -28 -5 -4 -11
aromatics, % V/V 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.4
Analine Point, C 158 151 142 152 151 154
IBP280-343°C 11.3 11.4 11.2 11.1 10.6 9.36
Density, g/cm³ 0.850 0.858 0.864 0.856 0.863 0.861
Sulfur content, % wt 0.274 0.327 1.086 1.431 1.991 1.674
Cetane Index 54.0 51.5 49.7 52.3 51.1 50.7
Pour Point, °C +25 +23 +29 31 35 24
Viscosity, mm²/s, 37.8 °C 5.5 5.0 5.5 5 4.8 5
Analine Point, C 174 165 149 162 160 162