Based on a sample taken July 30, 2020, Equinor ASA (formerly Statoil ASA) on Sept. 2, 2020, issued a commercial assay of heavy Mariner Blend crude (OGJ Online, Jan. 14, 2015; Dec. 19, 2014).1
Located on the East Shetland Platform in Block 9/11a of the UK continental shelf (UKCS) about 150 km east of Shetland and 320 km northeast of Aberdeen, Mariner field was discovered in 1981 but left untouched due to the complexity of the reservoir until 2012, when Equinor and its partners took final investment decision to develop the more than $7.7-billion project (OGJ Online, Dec. 21, 2012).
Brought on stream in August 2019, Mariner field—which consists of the deeper Maureen formation and shallower Heimdal reservoir—has an estimated 250-300 million bbl of oil in place and will produce over the next 30 years at average plateau rates of 55,000, up to 70,000 b/d at peak production (OGJ Online, Aug. 15, 2019).
Field development includes the Mariner A production, drilling, and living quarters (PDQ) platform based on a steel jacket, with oil exported to the Mariner B floating storage unit (FSU) and then taken to shore via tankers. Drilling is carried out from the PDQ drilling rig, with a jack-up rig having assisted during the initial phase.
With 65.11% interest, Equinor—which plans to drill about 100 wells during the first 12-14 years of development— operates Mariner on behalf of partners X Nippon Exploration and Production (UK) Ltd. 20%, Siccar Point Energy UK Ltd. 8.89%, and ONE-Dyas Mariner Ltd. 6%.
Whole crude
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.968
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 14.6
UOP K factor: 11.4
Total sulfur, wt %: 1.050
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 33.0
Total nitrogen, ppm: 3,282
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 1,069.000
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 3.95
Reid vapor pressure, psi: 1.5
Vis. at 20° C., cst: 1,893.00
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 412.00
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 223.00
Paraffins, wt %: 28.2
Naphthenes, wt %: 27.3
Aromatics, wt %: 44.6
Pour point, °C.: -9
Flash point, °C.: 94
Wax, wt %: 4.4
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 0.9
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 5.7
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 5.0
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 24.0
Nickel, ppm (wt): 6.0
n-Butane, wt %: 0.01
iso-Pentane, wt %: 0.01
n-Pentane, wt %: 0.01
C6 paraffins, wt %: 0.02
C6 naphthenes, wt %: 0.01
C7 paraffins, wt %: 0.02
C7 naphthenes, wt %: 0.02
Toulene, wt %: 0.01
Atmospheric distillation
C5 - 65° C.
Yield on crude, vol %: 0.1
Cumulative yield, wt %: 0.1
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.644
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 88.3
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.1
RON (clear): 80.9
MON (clear): 80.3
Paraffins, wt %: 97.2
Naphthenes, wt %: 2.8
Hydrogen, wt %: 16.6
65 - 100° C.
Yield on crude, vol %: 0.1
Cumulative yield, wt %: 0.1
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.725
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 63.7
Total sulfur, wt %: 0.001
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 0.5
RON (clear): 62.5
MON (clear): 59.6
Paraffins, wt %: 49.8
Naphthenes, wt %: 45.8
Aromatics, wt %: 4.4
Hydrogen, wt %: 15.0
100 - 150° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 0.1
Yield on crude, vol %: 0.2
Cumulative yield, wt %: 0.2
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.781
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 49.6
UOP K factor: 11.5
Total sulfur, wt %: 0.005
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 2.0
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.02
RON (clear): 64.4
MON (clear): 61.2
Paraffins, wt %: 34.0
Naphthenes, wt %: 44.0
Aromatics, wt %: 22.0
Aniline point, °C.: 46.3
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.8
150 - 200° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 0.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 1.0
Cumulative yield, wt %: 1.1
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.848
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 35.4
UOP K factor: 11.0
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.050
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 10.0
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.06
Vis. at 20° C., cst: 1.43
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 1.07
RON (clear): 44.5
MON (clear): 42.5
Paraffins, wt %: 21.6
Naphthenes, wt %: 58.6
Aromatics, wt %: 19.7
Freeze point, °C.: -84
Smoke point, mm: 16
Cetane index: 20
Naphthalenes, vol %: 2.0
Aniline point, °C.: 45.8
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.7
200 - 250° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 4.4
Yield on crude, vol %: 4.9
Cumulative yield, wt %: 5.6
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.878
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 29.6
UOP K factor: 11.0
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.135
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 10.6
Total nitrogen, ppm: 10
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 7.731
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.16
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 2.05
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 1.71
Pour point, °C.: -77
Cloud point, °C.: -74
Freeze point, °C.: -74
Smoke point, mm: 12
Cetane index: 24
Naphthalenes, vol %: 8.4
Aniline point, °C.: 47.2
Hydrogen, wt %: 13.1
250 - 300° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 7.8
Yield on crude, vol %: 8.4
Cumulative yield, wt %: 13.4
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.899
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 25.9
UOP K factor: 11.1
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.310
Mercaptan sulfur, ppm: 7.1
Total nitrogen, ppm: 35
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 35.190
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 0.63
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 4.13
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 3.22
Pour point, °C.: -63
Cloud point, °C.: -57
Freeze point, °C.: -57
Smoke point, mm: 9
Cetane index: 31
Naphthalenes, vol %: 15.1
Aniline point, °C.: 46.2
Hydrogen, wt %: 12.5
300 - 350° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 10.9
Yield on crude, vol %: 11.3
Cumulative yield, wt %: 24.3
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.928
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 21.0
UOP K factor: 11.0
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.680
Total nitrogen, ppm: 300
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 152.800
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 3.59
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 10.80
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 7.63
Pour point, °C.: -42
Cloud point, °C.: -33
Cetane index: 33
Naphthalenes, vol %: 21.5
Aniline point, °C.: 43.4
Hydrogen, wt %: 11.9
350 - 370° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 4.3
Yield on crude, vol %: 4.4
Cumulative yield, wt %: 28.5
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.949
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 17.6
UOP K factor: 11.0
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.890
Total nitrogen, ppm: 906
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 360.500
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 4.47
Vis. at 40° C., cst: 30.30
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 19.00
Pour point, °C.: -29
Cetane index: 34
Aniline point, °C.: 45.3
Hydrogen, wt %: 11.6
370° + C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 71.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 69.6
Cumulative yield, wt %: 100.0
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.993
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 10.9
UOP K factor: 11.5
Total sulfur, ppm: 1.270
Total nitrogen, ppm: 4,488
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 1,446.00
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 3.82
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 6,540.00
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 2,256.0
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 118.0
Pour point, °C.: 13
Wax, wt %: 5.0
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 1.3
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 8.0
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 7.1
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 33.6
Nickel, ppm (wt): 8.4
Vacuum distillation
370 - 450° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 17.3
Yield on crude, vol %: 17.3
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.967
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 14.7
UOP K factor: 11.1
Total sulfur, ppm: 0.980
Total nitrogen, ppm: 1,812
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 636.000
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 4.34
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 125.00
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 67.2
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 11.9
Pour point, °C.: -12
Aniline point, °C.: 54.2
Hydrogen, wt %: 11.4
Wax, wt %: 5.6
450 - 500° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 14.1
Yield on crude, vol %: 14.0
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.976
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 13.4
UOP K factor: 11.3
Total sulfur, ppm: 1.100
Total nitrogen, ppm: 2,697
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 806.300
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 4.95
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 386.00
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 183.0
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 23.0
Pour point, °C.: 1
Aniline point, °C.: 59.8
Hydrogen, wt %: 11.2
Wax, wt %: 6.1
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 0.2
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 1.3
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 1.1
500 - 550° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 10.1
Yield on crude, vol %: 10.0
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 0.982
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 12.4
UOP K factor: 11.5
Total sulfur, ppm: 1.250
Total nitrogen, ppm: 4,518
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 1,309.000
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 5.28
Vis. at 50° C., cst: 1,157.00
Vis. at 60° C., cst: 494.0
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 46.2
Pour point, °C.: 9
Aniline point, °C.: 61.5
Hydrogen, wt %: 11.1
Wax, wt %: 6.0
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 0.7
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 4.7
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 4.2
550° + C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 30.0
Yield on crude, vol %: 28.4
Density at 15° C., kg/l.: 1.022
API gravity at 60/60° F.: 6.9
UOP K factor: 11.7
Total sulfur, ppm: 1.520
Total nitrogen, ppm: 6,857
Basic nitrogen, ppm: 2,258.500
Total acid no., mg KOH/g: 2.50
Vis. at 100° C., cst: 7,707.0
Vis. at 130° C., cst: 699
Pour point, °C.: 51
Wax, wt %: 3.8
C7 asphaltenes, wt %: 2.7
Micro carbon residue, wt %: 16.9
Rams. carbon residue, wt %: 14.9
Vanadium, ppm (wt): 80.0
Nickel, ppm (wt): 20.0
References
- The September 2020 reference assay is a simulated assay based on fresh samples of Mariner Maureen (99.5 vol %) and Aasgard Blend (0.5% vol %) crudes.
