Anne K. Rhodes
Refining/Petrochemical Editor
If plans continue as scheduled, production of Colombias Cusiana crude will reach nearly 200,000 b/d by year-end 1995, and 500,000 b/d by year-end 1997, following expansion of Colombias Central Pipeline System (OGJ, Nov. 20, p. 27).
The expanded pipeline will enable partners Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos (Ecopetrol, 60%), BP Exploration (15.2%), Total Petroleum (15.2%), and Triton Energy Corp. (9.6%) to transport the crude to Coveas, Colombia. From Coveas, it is a relatively short haul to the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts (see map)(70259 bytes). The accompanying picture shows one of four 350,000 bbl tanks at the terminal. Five more of similar size will be added by year-end 1997.
Development
Cusiana was discovered in 1991. The field covers an area roughly 16 miles x 4 miles in the foothills of the Eastern Andes. Combined with a neighboring field, reserves of the 36 API, 0.25 wt % sulfur crude are estimated to be 2 billion bbl.
Production began in October 1994, operated by BPX Colombia. The recently completed early production phase involved drilling about 14 production wells and connecting them to Cusiana processing facilities. In addition, this phase entailed constructing more than 80 miles of pipeline, as well as upgrading existing pumping stations and constructing new ones.
The so-called full field development stage will be complete by the end of 1997. This phase comprises further field development and expansion of the existing pipeline from Cusiana to Coveas.
Additional tankage is being built at Coveas to allow the segregation of Cusiana from other lower-quality crudes. The existing tanker loading unit (TLU) can handle cargoes of about 800,000 bbl at a rate of 40,000 bbl/hr. The partners will commission a new TLU in 1996. This unit will handle tankers as large as 1 million bbl at a rate of 60,000 bbl/hr.
Crude quality
Cusianas refining characteristics include: low concentrations of sulfur, nitrogen, and metals; low acidity; and low residual yields. The crude also has excellent characteristics for producing feeds for reforming, fluid catalytic cracking, and coking, say the partners.
Table 1 (65844 bytes) shows Cusianas true boiling point data. Table 2 (42757 bytes) lists properties of relatively narrow heavy distillate fractions.
The following assay was performed on a sample taken in January 1995.
Cusiana
Colombia
Whole crude
Gravity, API: 36.35
Sulfur, wt %: 0.25
Visc. @ 68 F., cSt: 7.26
Visc. @ 86 F., cSt: 4.73
Visc. @ 104 F., cSt: 3.31
Pour pt., F.: 32
Acidity, mg KOH/g:
Conradson carbon, wt %: 1.2
Asphaltenes, wt %: 0.09
V/Ni, ppm(wt):
Salt, lb/1,000 bbl:
Water, vol %:
Range: Light hydrocarbons
Yield C1-C4, wt %: 1.85
Isopentane, wt %: 1.05
n-Pentane, wt %: 1.09
Range: C5-203 F.
Yield, wt %: 7.45
Yield, vol %: 9.2
Gravity, API: 75.92
Sulfur, wt %:
Mercaptan S, wt %:
Paraffins, wt %: 74.9
Naphthenes, wt %: 21.4
Aromatics, wt %: 3.7
n-Paraffins, wt %: 31.8
Range, F.: 203-347
Yield, wt %: 15.3
Yield, vol %: 16.8
Gravity, API: 52.79
Sulfur, wt %:
Mercaptan S, wt %:
Paraffins, wt %: 44.9
Naphthenes, wt %: 33.1
Aromatics, wt %: 22.0
n-Paraffins, wt %: 15.7
Range: C5-300 F.
Yield, wt %: 17.9
Yield, vol %: 20.8
Gravity, API: 63.54
Sulfur, wt %:
Mercaptan S, wt %:
Paraffins, wt %: 57.1
Naphthenes, wt %: 29.1
Aromatics, wt %: 13.8
n-Paraffins, wt %: 22.6
Range, F.: 300-450
Yield, wt %: 15.15
Yield, vol %: 15.9
Gravity, API: 44.39
Sulfur, wt %: 0.002
Mercaptan S, wt %:
Visc. @ 104 F., cSt: 1.12
Visc. @ 140 F., cSt: 0.89
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.018
Aromatics, vol %: 18.9
Smoke pt., mm: 22
Freeze, pt., F.: 83
Aniline pt., F.: 130.3
Cetane index (ASTM D976/IP380): 36.8/40.4
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.8
Color stability: Stable
Naphthalenes, vol %: 1.52
Range, F.: 450-648
Yield, wt %: 24.9
Yield, vol %: 24.3
Gravity, API: 32.16
Sulfur, wt %: 0.12
Visc. @ 122 F., cSt: 3.01
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 1.38
Cloud pt., F.: 0
Pour pt., F.: 0
Wax, wt %: 4.9
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 40
Acidity, mg KOH/g:
Aromatics, vol %: 20.4*
Smoke pt., mm: 15
Freeze, pt., F.: 8
Aniline pt., F.: 153.9
Cetane index (ASTM D976/IP380): 44.9/47.4
Aromatics, wt %: 23.0*
Color stability: Stable
Naphthalenes, vol %: 8.87
Range, F.: 648-696
Yield, wt %: 5.8
Yield, vol %: 5.5
Gravity, API: 27.26
Sulfur, wt %: 0.39
Visc. @ 122 F., cSt: 8.69
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 2.77
Cloud pt., F.: 53
Pour pt., F.: 53
Wax, wt %: 15.9
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 290
Analine pt., F.: 173.3
Cetane index: 45.8
Refractive index @ 158 F.: 1.4747
Range, F.: 696-948
Yield, wt %: 23.25
Yield, vol %: 21.65
Gravity, API: 24.68
Sulfur, wt %: 0.44
Visc. @ 140 F., cSt: 21.05
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 6.65
Pour pt., F.: 102
Wax, wt %: 23.0
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 750
Basic nitrogen, ppm(wt): 185
Organic oxygen, wt %: 0.2
Acidity, mg KOH/g:
Conradson carbon, wt %: 0.02
Aniline pt., F.: 200.8
Refractive index @ 158 F.: 1.4825
Dewaxed oil
Gravity, API: 20.59
Visc. @ 104 F., cSt: 113.0
Visc. @ 140 F., cSt: 37.90
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 9.02
Viscosity index: 21
Pour pt., F.: 11
Range, F.: 948-1,022
Yield, wt %: 3.15
Yield, vol %: 2.8
Gravity, API: 18.70
Sulfur, wt %: 0.66
Visc. @ 140 F., cSt: 188
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 29.55
Wax, wt %: 16.2
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 1,700
Basic nitrogen, ppm(wt): 375
Acidity, mg KOH/g:
Conradson carbon, wt %: 1.4
Analine pt., F.: 211.1
Refractive index @ 158 F.: 1.5058
Range, F.: 648+
Yield, wt %: 40.2
Yield, vol %: 36.8
Gravity, API: 22.05
Sulfur, wt %: 0.54
Visc. @ 122 F., cSt: 62.4
Pour pt., F.: 102
Wax, wt %: 19.5
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 1,210
Carbon residue, wt %: 2.9
Asphaltenes, wt %: 0.2
V/Ni, ppm(wt):
Range, F.: 696+
Yield, wt %: 34.4
Yield, vol %: 31.3
Gravity, API: 21.14
Sulfur, wt %: 0.57
Visc. @ 122 F., cSt: 98.3
Visc. @ 140 F., cSt: 59.9
Visc. @ 176 F., cSt: 26.6
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 14.10
Pour pt., F. : 108
Wax, wt %: 20
Melting pt. of wax, F.: 126
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 1,370
Acidity, mg KOH/g:
Carbon residue, wt %: 3.4
Asphaltenes, wt %: 0.25
V/Ni, ppm(wt):
Xylene equivalent: 5
Saturates, wt %: 60
Aromatics, wt %: 38
Resins A, wt %: 2
Resins B, wt %: 0
Range, F.: 948+
Yield, wt %: 11.15
Yield, vol %: 9.65
Gravity, API: 13.78
Sulfur, wt %: 0.85
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 155.0
Visc. @ 248 F., cSt: 66.8
Visc. @ 302 F., cSt: 24.7
Pour pt., F. : 118
Wax, wt %: 14
Melting pt. of wax, F.: 151
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 2,660
Carbon residue, wt %: 10.5
Asphaltenes, wt %: 0.75
V/Ni, ppm(wt): 3/3
Range, F.: 1,022+
Yield, wt %: 8.0
Yield, vol %: 6.85
Gravity, API: 11.86
Sulfur, wt %: 0.92
Visc. @ 212 F., cSt: 375
Visc. @ 248 F., cSt: 139.0
Visc. @ 302 F., cSt: 44.8
Total nitrogen, ppm(wt): 3,040
Carbon residue, wt %: 14.0
Asphaltenes, wt %: 1.1
V/Ni, ppm(wt): 4/4
Xylene equivalent: 7.5
Saturates, wt %: 21
Aromatics, wt %: 69
Resins A, wt %: 8
Resins B, wt %: 2
* 450-650 F. aromatics: 1-ring = 12.1 wt % (11.6 vol %); 2-ring = 8.7 wt % (7.2 vol %); 3-ring = 2.2 wt % (1.6 vol %). Temperature difference between cloud/clear is 5 F. Calculated values.
Extrapolated Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
