DISTILLATE CUTS

This crude was obtained on 8th December 2010 from Angola which is situated in West Africa
region. It is called as Saxi Blend. This is a light hydrocarbon analysis.

Specific Gravity
The API Gravity for this crude is 33.6. This shows, where crude is a medium crude where the
API Gravity is in between 29 and 38.

API

141.5
131.5
SG

33.6

141.5
131.5
SG

SG = 0.85706

Universal Oil Product (UOP) K Factor

KW

TB 3

SG

TB , mean average boiling point ( 0R ) = 1.8 ( 334 0C + 273.15 K )

= 1092.87 0R

KW

1092.87

0.85706

KW = 12.01835
= 12.02

The value Kw = 12.02 shows that the crude is paraffinic.

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Correlation Index (CI)

CI

87552
473.7G 456.8
TB

TB = 1092.87 0R
G = 0.85706

CI

87552
473.7 0.85706 456.8
1092.87

= 29.30132
Therefore, it can be assumed that this crude have low Correlation Index (CI) value. The lower
the CI value, the greater the concentrations of paraffin hydrocarbons in the fraction.

Characterizing Crude
TBP cut point 0C API
C5 95

Description
At this temperature, the paraffins content are
67.3 % wt while naphthenes content are 31.1
%

wt.

Paraffins

content

higher

than

naphthenes content. Paraffins content is

higher than 40 %. Total % wt of paraffins and
naphthenes is exceed 50 % which is 98.4 %.
Hence, it is a paraffinic crude.
95 175

At this temperature, the paraffins content are

35.4 % wt while naphthenes content are 48.7
% wt. Naphthenes content higher than
paraffins content. Naphthenes content is
higher than 40 %. Total % wt of paraffins and
naphthenes is exceed 50 % which is 84.1 %.
Hence, it is a naphthenic crude.
At this temperature, the paraffins content are

C5 - 149

47.9 % wt while naphthenes content are 43.2

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wt.

Paraffins

content

higher

than

naphthenes content. Paraffins content is

higher than 40 %. Total % wt of paraffins and
naphthenes is exceed 50 % which is 91.1 %.
Hence, it is a paraffinic crude.
Therefore, as for overall this crude is more paraffinic.

Sulphur Content ( % wt )
The suplhur content of this crude is 0.26 % wt. Since, the sulphur content does not exceed 0.5
% wt, it is considered as SWEET which means it contains little sulfur. It shows that this crude
can be skipped from hydrodesulfurization treatment since it have very low sulfur content.
Carbon Residue and Asphaltenes ( % wt )
The carbon residue and asphaltenes for this crude is 2.95 % wt and 0.241 % wt respectively.
Since, the carbon residue and asphaltenes are low in its content, it can expect that this crude
will produce very low amount of coke during processing.
Metal Content, ppm wt
The Vanadium, Nickel, and Iron content, ppm wt in this crude is 2.1, 9.9, and 2.6 respectively.
Vanadium concentrations above 2 ppm in fuel oils can lead to severe corrosion to turbine blades
and deterioration of refractory furnace linings and stacks. Distillation concentrates the metallic
constituents of crude in the residues, but some of the organometallic compounds are actually
volatilized at refinery distillation temperatures and appear in the higher-boiling distillates. The
metallic content may be reduced by solvent extraction with propane or similar solvents as the
organometallic compounds are precipitated with the asphaltenes and resins.
Nitrogen Content, ppm wt
The nitrogen content for this crude is 0.144 % wt. This crude have very low concentration of
nitrogen. Crudes containing nitrogen more than 0.25 % by weight require special processing to
remove the nitrogen. Even though they are present at very low concentrations, nitrogen
compounds have great significance in refinery operations. They can be responsible for the
poisoning of a cracking catalyst, and they also contribute to gum formation in finished products.

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Pour Point, 0C
The pour point for this crude is -36 0C. It have very low pour point. Therefore, it have low paraffin
content and high aromatic content. The crude oil is heavier.
Wax Content, % wt
Crude oil with more than 5 % wax are regarded as high wax oils (Chapman,1983). The wax
content of this crude is 5 %. Therefore, it is low wax oil. The crude is heavier.

Light
Distillate

Kerosine

Gas Oil

Residue

True Boiling Point Curve

700
600
500
400

Tempperature, 0C

300
200
100
0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

% Volume residue

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Figure 1.0 : True Boiling Point Curve

The TBP curve in Figure 1.0, normally utilized in petroleum industry to design distillation tower
according to the boiling point of different fractions. It specify the number of theoretical stages or
the molar reflux ratio used in the distillation. Initial boiling point (IBP) of this crude is 95 0C.
While, the Final boiling point (FBP) is 585 0C. Operation is at 760 mmHg for boiling points below
400 0C. For higher boiling point fractions, the distillation is conducted at reduced pressures as
low as 0.5 mmHg. The light distillate consist crude yield (%v) of 17.92 at 149 0C, kerosene
14.58 at (149 0C - 232 0C), gas oil 21.49 at (232 0C- 342 0C) , and residue 43.68 above 342 0C.
Viscosity Chart
12
10
8

Viscosity, cSt

6
4
2
0
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100 110

Temperature, 0C

Figure 2.0 : Viscosity Chart

The higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity of the crude. It reveals that at higher
temperature lighter crude oil can be obtained. Since the viscosity is increases rapidly with
decreasing temperature, this crude is categorized as paraffinic crude.

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