Comparative study of the physical and chemical properties of the crude oil mixture of the El-Wafa field in practically and through the use of an advanced program [Aspen HYSYS]

Abstract

 The accuracy in measuring the physical properties of any crude oil has become a very difficult task because the price of crude oil in the global market depends on it in addition to the process of producing lubricating oil , chemical products and refinery. Accordingly, this research effort focuses on comparative study of Libyan crude oil (El-Wafa field)  by measuring the physical and some chemical  properties  experimentally and by Aspen HYSYS V8.4 programs. Also, test the possibility to know the volume percentage of the production of lubricants from this crude oil by the two methods mentioned above.Test carried out on these measurements practically and theoretically the physical properties are include: normal boiling point, pour point, Specific gravity (Sp. gr.), standard density (API), dynamic viscosity , kinematics viscosity , molecular weight, Acentric factor and Watson factor (K or Kw ). Some chemical properties have also been experimentally measured, for example the sulphur content ( wt.%), Asphaltenes content( wt.%)  , water and sediment content (vol.%), Conradson carbon residue ( wt.%) , salt content (as NaCl, mg\L),  ash content(wt. %) and metals content ( wt.%).The results from the tests showed that, there is a very small convergence between the results of calculations of physical properties by use this modern software with experimental measurements in the lab to the crude oil of El-Wafal field up to 99% and this blend is not suitable for production the lubricated oil at atmospheric distillation column. Also, the results observed that’s the useful mole percentage of lubricated oil cutoff has volume percentage range not significant from 1 to 1.8% for this type of Libyan crude oil. Through practical and theoretical results possible to classify this type of crude oil as Brent mix according to the global market for the sale of crude oil, which is characterized by its lack of sulfur element and metals in addition to its standard relative density API is very high more than 55.