GUIDE TO WORLD CRUDES: Statoil updates Grane crude oil assay

July 2, 2012
Statoil conducted a commercial assay of Grane crude oil from a sample taken Mar. 18, 2012.

Statoil conducted a commercial assay of Grane crude oil from a sample taken Mar. 18, 2012.

The company developed Grane oil field in the North Sea with an integrated accommodation, processing, and drilling platform with a fixed steel frame construction resting on the seabed. The platform sits on Block 25/11, about 185 km west of Haugesund (see inset map), in water 127 m deep.

The field, discovered by Norsk Hydro in 1991 and placed on stream in September 2003, is the first field on the Norwegian continental shelf to produce heavy crude oil (OGJ Online, Sept. 23, 2003).

The Sture terminal near Bergen in western Norway exports crude oil that has arrived by a 115-km (71-mile) pipeline from Oseberg and a 212-km (131.6-mile) pipeline from Grane field. The terminal's two jetties can accommodate tankers up to 300,000 dwt, and five rock caverns can store up to 1 million cu m of crude oil. Another cavern can store up to 60,000 cu m of LPG. Photograph from Statoil; by Oyvind Hagen.

This oil differs from other types, according to Statoil, in that it occurs in "younger geological formations than what is usual on the continental shelf, namely in sandstone from the Tertiary period, deposited around 60 million years ago."

When Grane field came on stream, Statoil estimated its recoverable reserves to total 700 million bbl of oil.

Partners in Grane are ConocoPhillips Skandinavia (6.17%); ExxonMobil E&P Norway (28.22%); Petoro (28.94%); and Statoil (36.66%), which operates the field.

Transport

Grane oil moves via pipeline to Statoil's Sture terminal in Oygarden, near Bergen in western Norway. The terminal receives production via pipeline from the Oseberg area as well.

Oseberg-area crude and condensate (light oil) move via the 115-km Oseberg Transport System, which starts at the A platform on the field. Crude from Grane travels through the 212-km Grane Oil Pipeline.

At Sture, two jetties can berth tankers up to 300,000 dwt, and five artificial rock caverns can store up to 1 million cu m of crude. In addition, a 60,000-cu m cavern can store LPG, and another ballast water cavern can hold up to 200,000 cu m.

Processing at Sture recovers the lightest components from the crude, which are extracted as an LPG mix (propane and butane) and as naphtha. Stabilized crude and LPG mix are stored in the rock caverns before being shipped out over the jetties.

LPG mix and naphtha are also transported from the terminal through the Vestprosess pipeline to Mongstad.

Whole crude

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.9397

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.9403

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 19.0

Dry oil density at 15° C., kg/l: 0.9388

Sulfur, mass %: 0.816

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 2.3

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 12

Reid vapor pressure, kPa: 17.9

Pour point, °C.: –36

Kin. vis. at 20° C., cst: 308

Kin. vis. at 40° C., cst: 86.5

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 2,700

Hydrogen sulfide, mass %: ND1

Vanadium, mg/kg: 16

Nickel, mg/kg: 5.4

Sodium, mg/kg: 140

Salt as NaCl, mg/l.: 470

Wax content, mass %: 7.2

Flash point, °C.: ≤15

Water content, mass %: 0.91

Pentanes to 65° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 0.40

Yield on crude, vol %: 0.52

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.6960

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.6961

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 71.8

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: <3

n-Paraffins, mass %: 14.2

i-Paraffins, mass %: 47.5

Naphthenes, mass %: 36.0

Aromatics (incl. benzene), mass %: 2.3

n-Paraffins, vol %: 15.3

i-Paraffins, vol %: 50.4

Naphthenes, vol %: 32.5

Aromatics (incl. benzene), vol %: 1.8

Vapor pressure (DVPE1), kPa: NES1

Research octane no. (RON): NES

Motor octane no. (MON): NES

Research octane no. (RON): NES2

Motor octane no. (MON): NES2

65-90° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 0.39

Yield on crude, vol %: 0.49

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.7361

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.7363

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 60.7

Sulfur, mass %: <0.001

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: <3

n-Paraffins, mass %: 5.4

i-Paraffins, mass %: 26.9

Naphthenes, mass %: 64.7

Aromatics (incl. benzene), mass %: 3.0

Benzene, mass %: 1.1

n-Paraffins, vol %: 6.0

i-Paraffins, vol %: 29.4

Naphthenes, vol %: 62.0

Aromatics (incl. benzene), vol %: 2.5

Benzene, vol %: 0.9

Vapor pressure (DVPE), kPa: NES

Research octane no. (RON): NES

Motor octane no. (MON): NES

Research octane no. (RON): NES2

Motor octane no. (MON): NES2

Nitrogen, mg/kg: <1

90-150° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 1.73

Yield on crude, vol %: 2.02

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.7759

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.7762

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 50.8

Sulfur, mass %: 0.002

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: <3

n-Paraffins, mass %: 1.9

i-Paraffins, mass %: 17.7

Naphthenes, mass %: 65.9

Aromatics (incl. benzene), mass %: 14.6

Benzene, mass %: 0.1

n-Paraffins, vol %: 2.1

i-Paraffins, vol %: 19.2

Naphthenes, vol %: 65.7

Aromatics (incl. benzene), vol %: 13.0

Benzene, vol %: 0.1

Flash point, °C.: <10

Research octane no. (RON): NES

Motor octane no. (MON): NES

Research octane no. (RON): NES2

Motor octane no. (MON): NES2

Nitrogen, mg/kg: <1

150-180° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 1.43

Yield on crude, vol %: 1.65

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.8120

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.8123

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 42.7

Sulfur, mass %: 0.015

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: <3

Copper corrosion: 2a

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.01

n-Paraffins, mass %: 1.3

i-Paraffins, mass %: 22.4

Naphthenes, mass %: 56.1

Aromatics, mass %: 20.3

n-Paraffins, vol %: 1.4

i-Paraffins, vol %: 24.3

Naphthenes, vol %: 55.4

Aromatics, vol %: 18.9

Aromatics (HPLC1)

Total, mass %: 19.0

Monoaromatics, mass %: 19.0

Diaromatics, mass %: <0.1

Polycyclic aromatics, mass %: <0.1

Naphthalenes, vol %: 0.03

Aniline point, °C.: 42.3

Smoke point, mm: 20.0

Flash point, °C.: NES

Cetane index (D-976): 20.2

Calculated cetane index (D-4737): 24.3

Kin. vis. at 20° C., cst: 1.21

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 0.84

Nitrogen, mg/kg: <1

Distillation D-86 (50%), °C.: 161.6

180-240° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 6.05

Yield on crude, vol %: 6.72

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.8459

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.8463

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 35.7

Sulfur, mass %: 0.043

Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: <3

Copper corrosion: 1a

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02

Aromatics (HPLC1)

Total, mass %: 21.3

Monoaromatics, mass %: 18.7

Diaromatics, mass %: 2.6

Polycyclic aromatics, mass %: <0.1

Naphthalenes, vol %: 1.70

Aniline point, °C.: 50.2

Smoke point, mm: 18.0

Freezing point, °C.: <–60

Cloud point, °C.: <–48

Cold filter plugging point, °C.: <–48

Pour point, °C.: <–48

Cetane number: 33.4

Cetane index (D-976): 31.1

Calculated cetane index (D-4737): 30.2

Kin. vis. at 20° C., cst: 2.17

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 1.34

Nitrogen, mg/kg: <1

Distillation D-86 (50%), °C.: 208.5

240-320° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 15.47

Yield on crude, vol %: 16.43

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.8850

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.8855

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 28.3

Sulfur, mass %: 0.224

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.27

Aromatics (HPLC1)

Total, mass %: 36.2

Monoaromatics, mass %: 25.0

Diaromatics, mass %: 11.0

Polycyclic aromatics, mass %: 0.2

Aniline point, °C.: 53.8

Cloud point, °C.: –36

Cold filter plugging point, °C.: –33

Pour point, °C.: –36

Cetane number: 39.2

Cetane index (D-976): 38.4

Calculated cetane index (D-4737): 37.9

Kin. vis. at 20° C., cst: 6.56

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 3.00

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 15

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.002

Distillation D-86 (50%), °C.: 274.4

320-375° C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 11.51

Yield on crude, vol %: 11.75

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.9199

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.9204

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 22.2

Sulfur, mass %: 0.619

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 1.6

Aromatics (HPLC)

Total, mass %: 44.7

Monoaromatics, mass %: 27.5

Diaromatics, mass %: 14.0

Polycyclic aromatics, mass %: 3.2

Aniline point, °C.: 57.8

Watson K-factor: 11.3

Cloud point, °C.: –9

Cold filter plugging point, °C.: 313

Pour point, °C.: –9

Cetane number: 41.2

Cetane index (D-976): 38.6

Calculated cetane index (D-4737): 42.3

Conradson carbon residue, mass %: <0.10

Kin. vis. at 20° C., cst: 35.4

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 9.61

Kin. vis. at 100° C., cst: 2.82

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 210

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.011

Refractive index at 67° C.: 1.491

Distillation D-86 (50%), °C.: 337.1

375-420º C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 8.51

Yield on crude, vol %: 8.48

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.9426

Specific gravity at 60/60° F., 0.9432

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 18.5

Sulfur, mass %: 0.748

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 2.2

Aniline point, °C.: 69.0

Watson K-factor: 11.5

Pour point, °C.: 15

Conradson carbon residue, mass %: <0.10

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 45.8

Kin. vis. at 100° C., cst: 7.25

Vanadium, mg/kg: <0.1

Nickel, mg/kg: <0.1

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 880

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.033

Refractive index at 67° C.: 1.504

420-525º C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 21.35

Yield on crude, vol %: 20.96

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.9575

Specific gravity at 60/60° F., 0.9581

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 16.2

Sulfur, mass %: 0.869

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 3.1

Aniline point, °C.: 73.1

Watson K-factor: 11.5

Pour point, °C.: 27

Conradson carbon residue, mass %: 0.26

Kin. vis. at 50° C., cst: 211

Kin. vis. at 100° C., cst: 17.7

Vanadium, mg/kg: <0.1

Nickel, mg/kg: <0.1

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 1,900

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.057

Refractive index at 67° C.: 1.514

375°+ C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 62.61

Yield on crude, vol %: 59.73

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.9852

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 0.9858

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 12.0

Sulfur, mass %: 1.164

Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 2.6

Aniline point, °C.: 75.8

Watson K-factor: 11.5

Pour point, °C.: 15

Conradson carbon residue, mass %: 8.52

Asphaltenes, mass %: 1.8

n-Pentane insoluble, mass %: 5.4

Ash, mass %: 0.010

Kin. vis. at 80° C., cst: 346

Kin. vis. at 100° C., cst: 119

Vanadium, mg/kg: 29

Nickel, mg/kg: 9.7

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 4,300

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.126

Refractive index at 67° C.: 1.539

525°+ C.

Yield on crude, mass %: 32.75

Yield on crude, vol %: 30.29

Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 41.0159

Specific gravity at 60/60° F.: 1.0166

API gravity at 60/60° F.: 7.7

Sulfur, mass %: 1.436

Aniline point, °C.: 117

Pour point, °C.: 51

Conradson carbon residue, mass %: 16.8

Asphaltenes, mass %: 3.9

n-Pentane insoluble, mass %: 10.0

Ash, mass %: 0.064

Kin. vis. at 135° C., cst: 335

Kin. vis. at 145° C., cst: 211

Vanadium, mg/kg: 53

Nickel, mg/kg: 18

Nitrogen, mg/kg: 7,000

Basic nitrogen, mass %: 0.191

Penetration at 25° C., 0.1 mm: 40 mm

Composition, mass %

Normal paraffins

Methane: <0.01

Ethane: 0.03

Propane: 0.11

Butane: 0.07

Pentane: 0.04

Hexane: 0.03

Heptane: 0.02

Octane: 0.04

Nonane: 0.04

Total n-paraffins: 0.37

C4 hydrocarbons

i-Butane: 0.08

C5 hydrocarbons

Isoparaffins

2,2-Dimethylpropane: <0.01

Isopentane: 0.08

Total C5 isoparaffins: 0.08

Naphthenes

Cyclopentane: 0.02

C6 hydrocarbons

Isoparaffins

2,2-Dimethylbutane: <0.01

2,3-Dimethylbutane: 0.02

2-Methylpentane: 0.06

3-Methylpentane: 0.05

Total C6 isoparaffins: 0.13

Naphthenes

Methylcyclopentane: 0.08

Cyclohexane: 0.19

Total C6 naphthenes: 0.27

Aromatics

Benzene: 0.01

C7 hydrocarbons

Isoparaffins

2,2,3-Trimethylbutane: <0.01

3,3-Dimethylpentane: <0.01

2,4- Dimethylpentane: 0.02

2-Methylhexane: 0.02

2,3-Dimethylpentane: 0.03

3-Methylhexane: 0.04

2,2-Dimethylpentane: <0.01

Total C7 isoparaffins: 0.11

Naphthenes

cis-1,3-Dimethylcyclopentane: 0.04

trans-1,3-Dimethylcyclopentane: 0.03

trans-1,2-Dimethylcyclopentane: 0.07

Methylcyclohexane: 0.44

Ethylcyclopentane: 0.02

1,1-Dimethylcyclopentane: 0.03

Total C7 naphthenes: 0.63

Aromatics

Toluene: 0.09

C8 hydrocarbons

Isocompounds

2,5-Dimethylhexane: 0.01

2,4-Dimethylhexane: 0.02

3,3-Dimethylhexane: <0.01

2,3-Dimethylhexane: 0.01

2-Methyl 3-ethylpentane: <0.01

2-Methylheptane: <0.01

4-Methylheptane: 0.02

2,3,4-Trimethylpentane: <0.01

Total C8 isoparaffins: 0.06

Naphthenes

1,1,3-Trimethylcyclopentane (incl. 2,2-dimethylhexane): 0.03

trans, cis-1,2,4-Trimethylcyclopentane: 0.02

trans, cis-1,2,3-Trimethylcyclopentane: 0.02

1,1-Dimethylcyclohexane: 0.02

trans-1-Methyl-3-ethylcyclopentane: <0.01

cis-1-Methyl-3-ethylcyclopentane: <0.01

trans-1-Methyl-2-ethylcyclopentane: 0.02

trans-1,2-Dimethylcyclohexane: 0.05

Isopropylcyclopentane: <0.01

cis-1,2-Dimethylcyclohexane: 0.01

Ethylcyclohexane (incl. n-propylcyclopentane): 0.12

1-Methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane: <0.01

1,1,2-Trimethylcyclopentane: 0.02

Unidentified C8 naphthenes: 0.16

Total C8 naphthenes: 0.48

Aromatics

Ethylbenzene: 0.04

m-Dimethylbenzene (xylene): 0.09

p-Dimethylbenzene (xylene): 0.03

o-Dimethylbenzene (xylene): 0.07

Total C8 aromatics: 0.23

C9 hydrocarbons

Isoparaffins

3,5-Dimethylheptane: 0.06

4-Methyloctane: <0.01

2-Methyloctane: 0.02

3-Methyloctane: <0.01

2,3-Dimethylheptane: 0.03

3,4-Dimethylheptane: 0.02

4-Ethylheptane: <0.01

2,3,4-Trimethylhexane: <0.01

Total C9 isoparaffins: 0.13

Naphthenes

1,1,3-Trimethylcyclohexane: <0.01

1,1,4-Trimethylcyclohexane: 0.02

Unidentified C9 naphthenes: 0.10

Total C9 naphthenes: 0.13

Total identified: 2.8123

Total unidentified: 0.0748

Total C10+: 97.1130

1ND: not detectable; NES = not enough sample; DVPE = dry vapor pressure equivalent; HPLC = high-performance liquid chromatography. 2Corrected in accordance with EN 228. 3CFPP high due to velocity effects. 4Calculated density for 525o+ fraction.

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