Understanding API Gravity in Oil Measurement
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding API Gravity in Oil Measurement
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ScribdTranslationsDEGREES API
Concept:
API degrees or API gravity is an inverse measure used to determine the density of
hydrocarbons in relation to water. API degrees are nothing more than specific gravity
standard used by the oil industry, which compares the density of oil to the density
from the water through a calculation designed to ensure consistency in measurements.
Oil is less dense than water and in 1916 the United States government established the
Baumé scale as the standard measure for any liquid denser than water. After having
determined that the calculations obtained using this type of scale were incorrect, the API institute
The American Petroleum Institute decided to refine the scale and thus created the API degrees.
The official formula used for calculating API degrees is:
°=
141.5
-131.5
Which is equally useful for determining the specific gravity of oil through a
simple clearing:
141.5
= ° + 131.5
Mathematically, API degrees have no units; however, the measurement is found
Graduated in petroleum hydrometers, most oils will be found categorized.
between 10 and 70 degrees API, it is worth mentioning that every measurement of the API degrees of a certain
oil should be performed at 60°F.
If a liquid has an API gravity of more than 10, it is considered a 'light' oil that will float in
the water. If the liquid has less than 10 API degrees, it will sink and will be considered a 'heavy' oil.
Although API gravity essentially measures the relative density of a liquid oil with respect to
water is primarily used to evaluate and contrast the relative densities of different
petroleum.
A classification of oils according to their API gravity can be:
Light crude oil
Medium crude oil
Heavy crude oil
Extra heavy crude oil
Some features of them are detailed in the following table:
It should be mentioned that the heavier a crude oil is, naturally its price will be higher.
this is because the heavier it is, the more it contains a greater amount of
components in its composition, therefore the greater the diversity of products that can be
obtain from its refining, however, a crude oil with an API gravity is not desirable either.
too low, since this implies that its viscosity is very high and achieving flow is difficult
Through some thermal or mechanical method, it would result in high energy consumption.
The color of an oil can tell us the content it has of different products.
generally the lighter the color, the fewer products can be obtained from it
Fig. 1. Colors of the different types of crude oil, from left (lower API) to right (higher API)
Fig. 2. Range of products obtainable from petroleum with a high API
Examples of calculation:
For oil with a specific gravity of 0.85, the obtained API° is:
°=
141.5 141.5
− 131.5 = - 131.5 = 34.97 = 35°API
0.85
If, on the contrary, one wishes to calculate the specific gravity of oil from its
gravity API is (Example: API=35)
141.5 141.5
= =
° + 131.5 35 + 131.5
= 0.849 = 0.85
Measurement methods:
Nowadays, the most commonly used instrument to determine the API degrees of a certain crude oil
it is the hydrometer, which is calibrated to be able to take the reading directly from the value
of the API degrees and the specific gravity of oil. It mainly consists of a
bulb, generally filled with mercury, according to Archimedes' principle, the bulb will sink until
that the balance of forces has been reached, at that point we can take the reading on the scale
Graduated. The method is specified in the ASTM D1298 method.
Fig. 3. Hydrometer and reading on it
Similarly, it can be determined using the oscillating U-tube, according to the ASTM D4052 method.
Fig. 4. Oscillating U-tube
Raw in Bolivia
The oil produced in Bolivia has a density between 50º and 60º, which is on the oil scale.
is considered light. In some older fields that are currently declining, such as the
Camiri, La Peña, Surubí, and Paloma (discovered in the 1960s) produce oil with 38º.
API, which turns out to be the heaviest in the country. The oil extracted in our country allows for obtaining
through refining some by-products such as: Gasoline, Diesel, Jet Fuel, Kerosene and
lubricants.