02/09/2010 Crude Oil Assay

Crude Oil Assay

Crude oil assay is a term used for the chemical evaluation of crude oil. It is carried out in petroleum
laboratories under the supervision of chemical engineers and laboratories expert. Crude oil is
further processed to produce other types of oil; therefore it is very important to study crude oil
extensively. Types of crude oil differ in molecular and chemical properties. Hence they are not
identical; making crude oil assay becomes more important. The results of crude oil assay list each
and every detail with an extensive analysis. Crude oil assay is of great importance for refiners, oil
traders and producers.

It is better to explain the two kinds of Crude oil assay, before we go into the pros and cons of crude
oil assay. There are two types of an assay; inspection assay and comprehensive assay. Usually
inspection assays consist of a limited number of tests. Generally, there is little agreement on the
types and number of tests; also, constituents of inspection are still undefined. Inspection assay
results might help comprehensive assay by providing data. A comprehensive assay is a detailed
analysis and constitutes extensive testing of crude oil. It is usually carried out when inspection
assay fails to give clear results.

Crude assay includes characterization, and determination of boiling/freezing fractions through

physical distillation. Some important results obtained are sulfur content, nitrogen content,
viscosity measures, metal content and cold property measures. However, a detailed hydrocarbon
analysis is of primary importance to clients. Each type of Crude oil differs in properties, this
increase complexity and difficulty of crude oil assays. An oil assay is dependent on customer
requirements and type of crude oil. Usually, crude oil assay are presented on a variety of formats
and differ in evaluation approach used. The importance of evaluation report lies in the fact that for
every petroleum product there is only one type of crude oil suitable. This means that refinery
owners and oil producers need this information for production and processing purposes. There are
many laboratories all over the world, which provide this facility. However, a few high tech, famous
laboratories maintain major clientage.

Crude oil assays are a very complicated yet important process. It requires expertise and
experience to do this job efficiently. Even a slightest mistake is unforgiving and this is why, only a
few laboratories and experts have maintained their positions in the market. For a consumer crude
oil assay might seem unimportant; but in reality they indirectly influence our lives too.

crudeoilpriceperbarrel.org/crude-oil-ass… 1/2
02/09/2010 Crude Oil Assay

www.crudeoilpriceperbarrel.org

http://www.crudeoilpriceperbarrel.org/crude-oil-a
ssay.html

http://goo.gl/ffgS

crudeoilpriceperbarrel.org/crude-oil-ass… 2/2