EXPORT CRUDES FOR THE '90S PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL CRUDE ASSAYED

Anne K. Rhodes Refining/Petrochemical Editor Light, sweet Kutubu crude from near Lake Kutubu in Papua New Guinea has been assayed. Production of the 44-gravity, 0.04-wt % sulfur crude-Papua New Guinea's first commercial oil-began in June 1992 (OGJ, June 29, 1992, p. 44). Chevron Niugini Pty. Ltd., acting as operator for a group of six oil companies, discovered oil in the Iagifu-Hedinia and Agogo fields. Other interests are held by the Papua New Guinea government, British Petroleum Co.
Feb. 16, 1993
7 min read
Anne K. RhodesRefining/Petrochemical Editor

Light, sweet Kutubu crude from near Lake Kutubu in Papua New Guinea has been assayed. Production of the 44-gravity, 0.04-wt % sulfur crude-Papua New Guinea's first commercial oil-began in June 1992 (OGJ, June 29, 1992, p. 44).

Chevron Niugini Pty. Ltd., acting as operator for a group of six oil companies, discovered oil in the Iagifu-Hedinia and Agogo fields. Other interests are held by the Papua New Guinea government, British Petroleum Co. plc, Ampolex, BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Oil Search Ltd., and Japan PNG Petroleum.

Chevron built production facilities and laid an export pipeline from the central facility to landfall on the Kikori River, then to a platform in 66 ft of water in the Gulf of Papua (see OGJ, Aug. 3, 1992, p. 50 and p. 68 this issue).

Most of the early production will likely be sold to refineries in Sydney and Brisbane. Production of Kutubu is expected to reach 100,000 b/d, and possibly 140,000 b/d.

KUTUBU, PAPUA

NEW GUINEA

SPM, Gulf of Papua

Whole crude

Gravity, API: 44.0

Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.8063

Sulfur, wt %: 0.04

Hydrogen, wt %: 13.4

  • Total nitrogen, ppm: 340

  • Pour pt., F.: 35

    Vis., cSt @ 25 C.: 1.94

    Vis., cSt @ 40 C.: 1.56

    Vis., cSt @ 50 C.: 1.37

    Acid No., mg KOH/g:

    Vis. charac. factor: 11.9

  • Ramsbottom C, wt %: 2.2+

    Asphaltenes, wt %: 1.4

    Calcium, ppm: 0.3

    V/Ni, ppm: 0.4/11.4

    Cu/Na/Fe, ppm: 0.8/19.0/ 47.0

    Magnesium, ppm: 2.4

    Chromium, ppm: 0.2

    Cobalt, ppm: 0.8

    Range, C. : 21-70 (70-158 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 3.7-11.8

    Yield range, wt %: 2.6-9.3

    Yield, vol %: 8.1

    Yield, wt %: 6.7

    Gravity, API: 80.0

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.6692

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.6691

    Molecular wt.: 96

    P/N/A, vol %: 80.5/18.8/0.7

    RON, clear: 71.9

    RON, + 3.17 g TEL/U.S. gal: 97.7

    MON, clear: 69.6

    Rvp, psi (kpa): 11.1 (76.5)

    Sulfur, ppm: 7

    Mercaptan S, ppm: 2

    Total nitrogen, ppm:

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Range, C. : 70-140 (158-284 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 11.8-34.7

    Yield range, wt %: 9.3-30.7

    Yield, vol %: 22.9

    Yield, wt %: 21.4

    Gravity, API: 56.1

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.7542

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.7539

    Molecular wt.: 111

    P/N/A, vol %: 40.6/49.2/10.2

    RON, clear: 62.2

    RON, + 3.17 g TEL/U.S. gal: 90.5

    MON, clear: 59.4

    Rvp, psi (kpa): 2.1 (14.5)

    Sulfur, ppm: 8

    Mercaptan S, ppm: 2

    Total nitrogen, ppm:

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Range, C. : 140-190 (284-374 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 34.7-48.4

    Yield range, wt %: 30.7-44.1

    Yield, vol %: 13.7

    Yield, wt %: 13.4

    Gravity, API: 47.9

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.7886

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.7882

    Molecular wt.: 140

    P/N/A, vol %: 40.7/40.8/18.5

    RON, clear: 58.1

    RON, + 3.17 g TEL/U.S. gal: 80.8

    Rvp, psi (kpa): 0.2 (1.5)

    Sulfur, ppm: 11

    Mercaptan S, ppm: 2

    Total nitrogen, ppm:

    Hydrogen, wt %: 13.7

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Aniline pt., C.: 43.3

    Aniline gravity product: 5,269

    Freeze pt., C.: -79

    Smoke pt., mm: 24

    Range, C. : 140-230 (284-446 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 34.7-57.3

    Yield range, wt %: 80.7-53.1

    Yield, vol %: 22.5

    Yield, wt %: 22.4

    Gravity, API: 45.2

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.8009

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.8005

    Molecular wt.: 150

    Sulfur, wt %; 0.0014

    Mercaptan S, ppm: 2

    Total nitrogen, ppm:

    Hydrogen, wt %: 13.5

    Aromatics FIA, vol %: 19.8

    Naphthalenes, vol %: 1.89

    Freeze pt., C.: -60

    Smoke pt., mm: 22

    Pour pt., C.: - 59

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ - 20 C.: 2.80

    Vis., cSt @ 40 C.: 1.03

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 0.57

    Aniline pt., C.: 47.2

    Aniline gravity product: 5,288

    UOP K factor: 11.7

    Range, C. : 190-230 (374-446 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 48.3-57.3

    Yield range, wt %: 44.1-53.1

    Yield, vol %: 8.8

    Yield, wt %: 9.0

    Gravity, API: 41.1

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.8199

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.8195

    Molecular wt.: 168

    Sulfur, wt %: 0.0018

    Mercaptan S, ppm: 2

    Total nitrogen, ppm:

    Hydrogen, wt %: 13.3

    Aromatics FIA, vol %: 21.8

    Naphthalenes, vol %: 4.83

    Freeze pt., C.: -48

    Smoke pt., mm: 20

    Pour pt., C.: -48

    Cetane index: 39.3

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ -20 C.: 4.56

    Vis., cSt @ 40 C.: 1.33

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 0.68

    Aniline pt., C.: 52.8

    Aniline gravity product: 5,220

    UOP K factor: 11.7

    Range, C. : 230-360 (446-680 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 57.3-81.4

    Yield range, wt %: 53.1-78.8

    Yield, vol %: 24.1

    Yield, wt %: 25.7

    Gravity, API: 33.3

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.8586

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.8582

    Molecular wt.: 227

    Sulfur, wt %: 0.03

    Total nitrogen, ppm: 55

    Hydrogen, wt %: 12.9

    Cloud pt., C.: -2

    Pour pt., C.: -3

    Cetane index: 47.3

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ 40 C.: 3.16

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 1.29

    Aniline pt., C.: 66.1

    Aniline gravity product: 5,028

    UOP K factor: 11.7

    Wax content, wt %: 6.3

    Wax softening pt., C.: 26

    Range, C. : 360-540 (680-1,004 F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 81.4-97.4

    Yield range, wt %: 78.8-96.8

    Yield, vol %: 16.1

    Yield, wt %: 18.0

    Gravity, API: 24.5

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.9069

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.9064

    Molecular wt.: 385

    Sulfur, wt %: 0. 13

    Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.10

    Basic nitrogen, ppm: 350

    Hydrogen, wt %: 12.3

    Heat of combustion (gross), MJ/kg: 44.65

    Heat of combustion (net), MJ/kg: 42.03

    Pour pt., C.: 39

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ 50 C.: 24.5

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 6.4

    Aniline pt., C.: 87.8

    Aniline gravity product: 4,655

    UOP K factor: 11.9

    Wax content, wt %: 34

    Range, C. : 360 + (680 + F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 81.4-100

    Yield range, wt %: 78.8-100

    Yield, vol %: 18.7

    Yield, wt %: 21.2

    Gravity, API: 22.1

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 0.9215

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 0.9210

    Molecular wt.: 403

    Sulfur, wt %: 0. 15

    Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.15

    Hydrogen, wt %: 11.9

    Heat of combustion (gross), MJ/kg: 44.40

    Heat of combustion (net), MJ/kg: 41.83

    Pour pt., C.: 42

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ 50 C.: 43.5

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 8.0

    Aniline pt., C.: 87.2

    Aniline gravity product: 4,177

    UOP K factor: 11.8

    Wax content, wt %: 31

    Wax softening pt., C.: 48

    Asphaltenes, wt %: 0.2

    Ramsbottom C, wt %: 2.8

    Con. carbon, wt %: 3.7

    V/Ni/Fe, ppm:

    Range, C. : 540+ (1,004+ F.)

    Yield range, vol %: 97.4-100

    Yield range, wt %: 96.8-100

    Yield, vol %: 2.6

    Yield, wt %: 3.2

    Gravity, API: 8.3

    Specific gravity, 60/60 F.: 1.0125

    Density @ 15 C., g/ml: 1.0119

    Sulfur, wt %: 0.27

    Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.39

    Hydrogen, wt %: 10.2

    Carbon, wt %: 88.0

    Heat of combustion (gross), MJ/kg: 42.79

    Heat of combustion (net), MJ/kg: 40.52

    Pour pt., C.: 75

    Acid No., mg KOH/g: 0.05

    Vis., cSt @ 100 C.: 273

    UOP K factor: 11.5

    Wax content, wt %: 14.5

    Asphaltenes, wt %: 1.5

    Ramsbottom C wt %: 18.7

    Con. carbon, wt %: 18.7

    V/Ni/Fe, ppm: 0.5/12/49

    *Calculated

    +Performed on 650 F. + cut

    Performed on 1,000 F.+ cut

    Fe may be high; Sample was not washed to remove tramp iron.

    Copyright 1993 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.

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