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API Gravity

The API gravity is a measure of how dense a petroleum liquid is compared to water. A higher API gravity means a petroleum liquid is less dense than water and will float, while a lower API gravity means it is more dense and will sink. API gravity values for crude oil typically range from 10 to 70 degrees, with lighter crudes having a higher API in the 35-45 range and heavier crudes having a lower API in the 15-25 range. The density and value of crude oil is directly related to its API gravity, with lighter crudes having a higher value.

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118 views3 pages

API Gravity

The API gravity is a measure of how dense a petroleum liquid is compared to water. A higher API gravity means a petroleum liquid is less dense than water and will float, while a lower API gravity means it is more dense and will sink. API gravity values for crude oil typically range from 10 to 70 degrees, with lighter crudes having a higher API in the 35-45 range and heavier crudes having a lower API in the 15-25 range. The density and value of crude oil is directly related to its API gravity, with lighter crudes having a higher value.

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Ahmed Mohammed Shaaban
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API Oil Gravity

CAIRO UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

4th Year of Petroleum Engineering

Reservoir Simulation PET 4010

Presented to:

Dr. Helmy Sayyouh

presented by:

Ahmed Mohamed Shaaban Hassan

November 7, 2022
API Oil Gravity

The American Petroleum Institute gravity, or API gravity, is a measure of


how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared to water: if its API gravity
is greater than 10, it is lighter and floats on water; if less than 10, it is heavier
and sinks.
API gravity is thus an inverse measure of a petroleum liquid's density relative
to that of water (also known as specific gravity). It is used to compare
densities of petroleum liquids. For example, if one petroleum liquid is less
dense than another, it has a greater API gravity. Although API gravity is
mathematically a dimensionless quantity , it is referred to as being in
'degrees'. API gravity is graduated in degrees on a hydrometer instrument.
API gravity values of most petroleum liquids fall between 10 and 70 degrees.

A crude oil will typically have an API between 15 and 45 degrees. Higher API
indicates a lighter (lower density) crude. Lower API indicates a heavier
(denser) crude. Generally, lighter (high API) crudes are more valuable
because they yield more high-value light products when run through
a refinery.
Light crude is typically in the 35-45 API range, which includes most of the
highest valued crudes. Crudes lighter than 45 are typically considered extra-
light crude or condensates and are valued lower than light crude because they
contain a lot of light ends such as propane and butane. A medium crude is in
the 25-35 API range, and a heavy crude is in the 15-25 API range. Anything
below 15 API would be considered an extra-heavy crude.
Relationship between crude oil price and API gravity (from Rana et al. 2007)

REFERENCES
[1] Wikipedia Editors, “API gravity”, Wikipedia Site, last edited on 7 August
2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/API_gravity

[2] Tim Fitzgibbon, “API gravity”, McKinsey Energy Insights.


https://www.mckinseyenergyinsights.com/resources/refinery-reference-desk/api-gravity/

[3] Watson Loh, “An overview of heavy oil properties and its recovery and
transportation methods”, July 2014, Brazilian Journal of Chemical
Engineering.

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