Anne K. Rhodes
Refining/Petrochemical Editor
OGJ is updating two important Saudi Arabian crude oils--Arabian Heavy (Safaniya) and Arabian Light--in its continuing series on world export crudes.
Arabian Heavy (Safaniya) was reassayed in early 1990; Arabian Light in May 1990. These assays, therefore, replace those that appeared in the Journal earlier (OGJ, Apr. 11, 1983, p. 73).
However, as is frequently the case with crudes from major, single reservoirs, there is little, if any, change in their characteristics. Arabian Heavy has decreased in API gravity to 27.4 from 27.9 (OGJ, Apr. 11, 1983, p. 73). Its sulfur content has also held virtually constant at 2.80 wt %, as compared to 2.85 earlier.
Arabian Light has remained at 33.4 API gravity since the last assay, and its sulfur content has decreased from 1.79 to 1.77.
Arabian American Oil Co. recently completed a $500 million project to boost the capacity of its east-west Petroline to 5 million b/d from 3.2 million b/d. The project did not require further looping of the pipeline. A looping project in 1987 increased capacity from 1.85 million b/d to 3.2 million b/d.
The Petroline project provides more flexibility by increasing pressure capability at the 22 pump stations, by boosting storage capacity at Yanbu, and by expanding tanker-loading facilities.
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