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University of Trinidad and Tobago

NETD Petroleum Engineering
San Fernando Campus
Laboratory Experiment
PLANIMETER LABORATORY EXERCISE

for

Ms.
Instructor of
The University of Trinidad and Tobago
San Fernando Campus

From
Ms. Renee Glodon ID Number: 67731
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Part Time
San Fernando Technical Institute Campus

Submitted on 6th July, 2015

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1.0 TITLE: The determination of the bulk volume and reserves of a reservoir using the area
Computation/Planimeter method.
2.0 OBJECTIVES:
2.1 To measure the area of a map using a planimeter and to calculate bulk volume and
reserves of the reservoir.

3.0 THEORY:
Oil and gas originally exist in the subsurface formation called reservoir. Reservoir
has porous and permeable properties that enable it to contain and trap the petroleum.Porous
means that the reservoir has spaces between the grains of the rocks that makeit up. Permeable
means that the pore spaces are connected to each other (inter-connected).The geometry of the
reservoir is projected onto a map called the isopach mapwhich consists of several contour lines.
From this map, the petroleum engineers areable to determine and estimate the volume of the
reservoir. This data can be used todetermine the available quantity of hydrocarbons in the
reservoir.There are several ways that can be used to determine the volume of reservoir from the
isopach map.
Planimeter Area to Acres Calculation
CA = Sc2 x

4
43560

Where CA = measuring constant

Sc = Scale ratio = 500ft
u = value of one planimeter amount
= 0.01 in for model 10/10 A

4.0 PRECAUTIONS:

5.0 APPARATUS AND MATERIAL

Planimeter

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6.0 PROCEDURES:
7.0 CALCULATIONS

Results Table:

Area Number

Planimeter Area

Height
(ft)
1

Average

Ao

2566

2566

2112

2414.6

A1

20

0508

0778

1115

1005

A2

40

0533

0755

0758

682

A3

60

0345

0314

0328

329

Figure 1: Table show obtained Results

Calculations:

Formula used:
Planimeter Area to Acres Calculation
CA = Sc2 x

CA = (500)2 x

4
43560
0.01
43560

= 0.057 acres

Thus, Area (acres) = Average Planimeter (Area x CA)

Results Table:

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Area Number

Average Area

Area Acres

Ao

2414.6

137.598

A1

1005

57.3

A2

682

38.9

A3

329

18.753

Figure 2: Table show Calculated Results

Bulk Volume Calculation

Max Contour = 60ft
Max pt
= 78ft
Tmax = max pt max contour
= 78 -60
= 18 ft
Tn =

Tmax
2

18
2

= 9 ft

Trapezoidal Rule
Bulk Volume =

h
2

( Ao + 2A1 + 2A2 +An) + TnAn

h = contour interval = 20ft

Therefore, Bulk Volume, Vb =

20
2

8.0 DISCUSSION
9.0 SOURCES OF ERRORS
9.1 The low precision of the hydrometer is one possible source of error.
9.2 Parallax errors which may have occurred when the scale of the hydrometer and
thermometer was not viewed from a perpendicular position.
9.3 The hydrometer readings were possibly not accurate if the hydrometer were not read
from the middle of the liquid but when it was stuck to the side of the tube.

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10.0

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, by using the hydrometer method to determine the specific gravity, we were
to calculate the API gravity of Kerosene, Gasoline, Diesel/Lube Oil and Crude Oil. Using
these values, we were able to classify these petroleum products as light.

11.0

REFERENCES
ASTM International (1998). Manual on Hydrocarbon Analysis. Baltimore: American Society
for Testing and Materials.

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University of Trinidad and Tobago

NETD Petroleum Engineering
San Fernando Campus
Chemistry for Technicians
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT #2
ENGLER DISTILLATION (ASTM D86-59)
for

Mr. Bisram Ramdatt

Instructor of Applied Chemistry for Technicians
The University of Trinidad and Tobago
San Fernando Campus

From
Ms. Renee Glodon ID Number: 67731
Mr. Christopher Bramble - ID Number: 63815
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Part Time
San Fernando Technical Institute Campus

Submitted on 25th June, 2015

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1.0 TITLE: The determination the percentage of gasoline, kerosene, diesel (lubricating oil) in a
100ml sample of synthetic crude oil, using the Engler Distillation.
2.0 OBJECTIVES:
2.1 To determine the percentage of gasoline, kerosene, diesel (lubricating oil) in a 100ml
sample by plotting graphs of temperature vs percent evaporated.
3.0 INTRODUCTION:
In this experiment, the boiling ranges of the petroleum distillates are determined using the
Engler Distillation method. The main learning objectives are to learn the applications of this
technique and its execution and to learn the fundamental principles of petroleum distillation.

4.0 THEORY
Engler Distillation is basic test method of determining the boiling range of a petroleum product
by performing a simple batch distillation. The distillation (volatility) characteristics of
hydrocarbons have an important effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of
fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives information on the composition, the properties, and
the behavior of the fuel during storage and use. Volatility is the major determinant of the
tendency of a hydrocarbon mixture to produce potentially explosive vapors.
This test is used to estimate the percentage of each component in crude oil based on the
temperatures between which they distill off. They are as follows:

Gasoline ambient temperature to 2000C (393oF)

Keroscene 2000 C to 2750C (5270F)
Diesel above 2750C

Temperatures above 2880C (550F) can often lead to cracking of crude oil molecules and are
unsafe in glass apparatus because of increases in volume and creation of vapors; moisture
content greater than 1% can lead to severe foaming and bumping.
5.0 PRECAUTIONS:
5.1 Hot oils cause immediate 3rd degree burns on exposed skin
5.2 All hot oils are extremely flammable (all vapours burn)
5.3 All petroleum products go into solvent units not in sinks.

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5.4 Monitor the temperature constantly. Do not allow the liquid to boil uncontrollably.
6.0 APPARATUS AND MATERIAL
125 ml round bottomed distillation flask with long neck and side arm.
ICE/H2O cooling bath
Condenser
Ceramic heating mantle and transformer
100ml and 10ml graduated cylinders
A.S.T.M low distillation thermometer, 0 to 4000C
Heated insulated gloves
100ml light crude oil
Boiling chips

7.0 PROCEDURES:
The apparatus was set up as directed by the lab technician. A 100ml sample of crude oil was then
transferred into a round bottom flask and several boiling chips were then added. Afterwards, the
round bottom flask was inserted into distillation apparatus and the instrument was turned on. The
flask was heated until the first drop of condensate is collected in approximately five (5) minutes.
The temperatures, at which the first drop of condensate was visible, were recorded as the initial
boiling point (IBP). The distillation continued at a uniform rate of 4 to 5ml per minute and the
temperature was recorded at every interval of 5ml of distillate that was collected. The
temperature values were observed on the thermometer and recorded on a data sheet. In addition,
the final boiling point of the synthetic crude oil was observed and recorded on the data sheet and
the apparatus was then turned off and allowed to cool. A 10ml cylinder was used to measure the
material remaining in the flask; this material is called the residue and then was recorded in the
data table. Finally, a graph of Temperature(y axis) vs Percent Evaporated was plotted in relation
to the experiment.
8.0 RESULTS
Volume distilled (ml)
First drop
5
10
15
20
25

Temperature (degrees C)
32
58
70
80
90
102

% Evaporated
5
10
15
20
25

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30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
87

116
124
144
158
172
178
190
200
209
222
240
266
284

Calculations:

Formula used:

Distillation loss = 100ml (Volume recovered + residue)

Where volume recovered = 87ml
And residue = 13ml

Distillation loss = 100ml (87ml + 13ml)

= 100ml 100ml
= 0ml

Percent (%) Distillate = Volume distillate + distillation loss

30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
87

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Distillation Curve for Synthetic Crude Oil

300

250

200

Temperature oC

150

100

50

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent Evaporated

Graph 1: Distillation Curve for Synthetic Oil

70

80

90

100

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9.0

DISCUSSION

Crude Oil is a mixture of a large number of chemicals, made up of hydrogen and carbon, called
hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons range from extremely light gases to semisolid materials like
asphalt or wax. The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons have an important
effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. In this
experiment, the synthetic crude oil was distilled to determine the percentage of gasoline,
kerosene, diesel (lubricating oil) in it. The boiling range for the synthetic crude oil obtained gave
information on the composition, and the behavior of the fuel. From the distillation of the crude
oil sample and consequently, its analysis, it was found that the crude oil sample contained 65ml
of gasoline, 21ml of kerosene and 1ml of diesel. The amounts of the various fractions obtained
by distillation depend on the nature of the crude oil, which was reflected in the boiling point
profile on the curve. As such, the kerosene and the light gas oil fractions found in the distillation
are referred to as middle distillates that usually represent the last fractions to be separated by
distillation at atmospheric pressure. This left the fractions from the heavy gas oil and higher
boiling material that are collectively called reduced crude. It is important to note that crude oil
compositions vary widely due to the fact that light crudes tend to have more gasoline, kerosene
and the heavy crudes tend to have more gas oil and residue. This is due to the relationship
between the weight of the compounds and the temperature at which they boil.
In addition, due to losses in the system such as escaped vapor and crude oil sticking to the flask,
a value of distillation loss was taken into account. It was found that (0ml) no percentage of the
synthetic crude oil was unaccounted for in the system. This is usually because the percentage
recovered does not equal the 100- ml sample charge, partly because of the inability of the
apparatus to condense the lightest fractions.
10.0

POSSIBLE SOURCES OF ERROR

10.1 Inadequately sealed joints in distillation apparatus RH 115V.

11.0

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the distillation of the synthetic crude oil resulted in the percentage of kerosene,
gasoline, diesel/lube oil and crude oil to be determined. This was shown to be 65ml of gasoline,
21ml of kerosene and 1ml of diesel.

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12.0

REFERENCES

J.O. Robertson, G.V. Chilingarian, S. Kumar (1989). Surface Operations in Petroleum

Production, II. New York: Elsevier.
W. C. Lyons, (1996), Standard Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Gulf
Publishing Company.