Based on a sample taken Feb.13, 2020, Equinor ASA on Mar. 24, 2020, issued a commercial assay of light, sweet Gudrun Blend crude (OGJ Online, Apr. 7, 2014; Sept. 28, 2011).
Discovered in 1975 with Well 15/3-1 S, drilled in 1974-75, Gudrun field lies in PL025 about 55 km north of Sleipner installations in the Norwegian North Sea. The reservoirs, at a 4,200-4,700 m depth, contain oil in the Upper Jurassic Draupne formation and gas in the Middle Jurassic Hugin formation.
Production from the high-temperature, high-pressure field began in April 2014 from the Gudrun fixed platform in 110 m of water. The platform hosts processing for partial stabilization of oil and gas, which are transported via pipeline to the Sleipner A platform for separation. Oil is routed together with Sleipner condensate to Kårstø for shipping, while sales gas moves to European markets through Gassled pipelines tied into Sleipner.
Estimated to contain 184 MMboe, Gudrun field crude oil production averaged 1.97 million cu m in 2019, according to Norwegianpetroleum.no, an information and statistical website jointly operated by Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum & Energy and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.
Equinor Energy AS operates Gudrun with 36% interest. Neptune Energy Norge AS holds a 25% interest, OMV (Norge) AS 24%, and Repsol Norge AS 15%.
Future field plans
In 2019, Gudrun partners announced they would invest 2.4 billion kroner in a water injection plant to improve reservoir recovery as part of Gudrun Phase 2 development to extend the field’s life beginning in 2021 by 3 years to 2032 (OGJ Online, July 16, 2019).
Earlier this year, however, Equinor Energy and partner Neptune Energy Norge said they are also considering a tie in of a new oil discovery in the Sigrun East prospect in the central part of the North Sea to Gudrun field, which could add recoverable resources estimated at 7-17 MMboe (OGJ Online, Mar. 2, 2020).
Whole crude
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.764
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 53.7
UOP K factor: 12.1
Total sulfur, wt %: 0.080
Total nitrogen, ppm: 178
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 50.00
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02
Reid vapor pressure, psi: 9.5
Vis. at 20° C., cst: 1.08
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 0.86
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 0.77
Paraffins, wt %: 50.1
Naphthenes, wt %: 27.2
Aromatics, wt %: 22.6
Pour point, °C.: -39
Wax, wt %: 3.6
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 0.2
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 0.2
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 0.1
Nickel, ppm (wt): 0.1
Methane + ethane, wt %: 0.01
Propane, wt %: 0.02
iso-Butane, wt %: 0.44
n-Butane, wt %: 4.49
iso-Pentane, wt %: 5.01
n-Pentane, wt %: 5.95
Cyclopentane, wt %: 0.51
C6 paraffins, wt %: 7.67
C6 naphthenes, wt %: 4.16
Benzene, wt %: 1.97
C7 paraffins, wt %: 4.49
C7 naphthenes, wt %: 4.87
Toulene, wt %: 3.44
Atmospheric distillation
Pentanes to 65° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 15.4
Yield on crude, vol %: 18.3
Cumulative yield, wt %: 20.4
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.640
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 89.7
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.1
RON (clear): 78.5
MON (clear): 77.8
Paraffins, wt %: 96.7
Naphthenes, wt %: 3.3
Hydrogen, wt %: 16.6
65 - 100° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 15.6
Yield on crude, vol %: 16.3
Cumulative yield, wt %: 35.9
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.728
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 62.8
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.4
RON (clear): 61.2
MON (clear): 59.1
Paraffins, wt %: 52.9
Naphthenes, wt %: 34.4
Aromatics, wt %: 12.7
Hydrogen, wt %: 14.5
100 - 150° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 18.6
Yield on crude, vol %: 18.0
Cumulative yield, wt %: 54.6
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.786
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 48.4
UOP K factor: 11.4
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.6
RON (clear): 71.0
MON (clear): 66.4
Paraffins, wt %: 32.6
Naphthenes, wt %: 29.6
Aromatics, wt %: 37.8
Aniline point, °C.: 42.9
Hydrogen, wt %: 12.9
150 - 200° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 10.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 10.4
Cumulative yield, wt %: 65.5
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.797
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 46.0
UOP K factor: 11.7
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.003
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.6
Vis. at 20° C., cst: 1.18
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 0.93
RON (clear): 39.7
MON (clear): 37.8
Paraffins, wt %: 44.7
Naphthenes, wt %: 25.2
Aromatics, wt %: 30.1
Freeze point, °C.: -57
Smoke point, mm: 20
Cetane index: 35
Naphthalenes, vol %: 0.6
Aniline point, °C.: 47.4
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.9
200 - 250° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 7.1
Yield on crude, vol %: 6.6
Cumulative yield, wt %: 72.6
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.821
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 40.7
UOP K factor: 11.7
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.015
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.6
Total nitrogen, ppm: 3
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 2.83
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.01
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 1.61
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 1.39
Pour point, °C.: -44
Cloud point, °C.: -43
Freeze point, °C.: -40
Smoke point, mm: 18
Cetane index: 44
Naphthalenes, vol %: 3.7
Aniline point, °C.: 57.8
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.4
250 - 300° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 7.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 7.1
Cumulative yield, wt %: 80.5
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.847
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 35.4
UOP K factor: 11.7
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.068
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.4
Total nitrogen, ppm: 21
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 15.59
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 2.78
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 2.30
Pour point, °C.: -22
Cloud point, °C.: -21
Freeze point, °C.: -16
Smoke point, mm: 15
Cetane index: 51
Naphthalenes, vol %: 7.9
Aniline point, °C.: 68.6
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.1
300 - 350° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 5.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 5.2
Cumulative yield, wt %: 86.4
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.862
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 32.6
UOP K factor: 11.9
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.211
Total nitrogen, ppm: 149
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 58.96
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.03
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 5.30
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 4.16
Pour point, °C.: 4
Cloud point, °C.: 4
Cetane index: 59
Naphthalenes, vol %: 11.6
Aniline point, °C.: 77.8
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.0
350 - 370° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 1.7
Yield on crude, vol %: 1.5
Cumulative yield, wt %: 88.1
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.871
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 30.9
UOP K factor: 12.0
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.302
Total nitrogen, ppm: 387
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 129.60
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.03
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 10.10
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 7.54
Pour point, °C.: 19
Cetane index: 67
Aniline point, °C.: 84.6
Hydrogen, wt %: 12.9
370° + C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 11.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 10.0
Cumulative yield, wt %: 100.0
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.900
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 25.6
UOP K factor: 12.2
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.466
Total nitrogen, ppm: 1,347
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 361.40
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.03
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 43.20
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 28.7
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 8.59
Pour point, °C.: 47
Wax, wt %: 19.4
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 1.4
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 1.3
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 1.0
Nickel, ppm (wt): 0.7
Vacuum distillation
370 - 450° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 5.8
Yield on crude, vol %: 5.0
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.883
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 28.7
UOP K factor: 12.1
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.339
Total nitrogen, ppm: 609
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 199.00
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 16.40
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 11.9
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 4.53
Pour point, °C.: 34
Aniline point, °C.: 92.6
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.0
Wax, wt %: 21.5
450 - 500° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 2.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 2.2
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.897
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 26.2
UOP K factor: 12.3
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.425
Total nitrogen, ppm: 1,019
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 280.30
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 38.50
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 25.9
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 8.03
Pour point, °C.: 47
Aniline point, °C.: 101.7
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.1
Wax, wt %: 21.3
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 0.3
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 0.2
500 - 550° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 1.7
Yield on crude, vol %: 1.4
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.912
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 23.5
UOP K factor: 12.4
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.510
Total nitrogen, ppm: 1,694
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 443.80
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.03
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 102.00
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 62.7
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 15.00
Pour point, °C.: 55
Aniline point, °C.: 106.9
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.1
Wax, wt %: 18.5
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 1.6
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 1.4
550° + C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 1.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 1.5
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.953
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 17.0
UOP K factor: 12.2
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.860
Total nitrogen, ppm: 3,721
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 891.45
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.06
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 106.00
Vis. at 130° C., cst: 33.9
Pour point, °C.: 54
Wax, wt %: 11.4
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 0.1
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 7.2
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 6.6
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 6.0
Nickel, ppm (wt): 4.2