Yield Structure of Crude Oils with Increasing Density of Crude
The yield of different distillation cuts from crude oils vary with the specific gravity of the oil. Light crudes have a high content of light and heavy naphtha and relatively low content of vacuum gas oil and residue, compared to heavier crudes. The content of kerosine, light and heavy atmospheric gas oil (diesel) do not vary that much with whole crude gravity.
The first figure shows the yield of distillation cuts typical for European refineries, while the second figure shows yields of distillation cuts typical for North American refineries. The data used in the figures are from crudes from all over the world.
The differences in the refinery fractionation cut points are caused by differences in the fuel marked. North America has a larger gasoline marked than Europe, and gasoline is made from the naphtha fraction. Europe has more diesel cars, and a resulting larger need for gas oil (from which the diesel is made) from the crude oil. The differences in demanded volumes are met by varying the cut point emperatures between the different fractions, but also by selecting different cracking processes for the VGO and residue, favouring naphtha or gas oil production. The cut points given in the figures and tables below, are said to be typical , however, cut points varies from refinery to refinery, dependent on the refinery configuration and product portfolio. For each refinery, there will also be variations over the year, reflecting seasonal variations in the demanded volumes of gasoline, diesel and fuel oil, as well as differences in the quality specifications.
See also Crude oil viscosity as function of gravity , Crude oil metal content as function of gravity , Standard test methods for crude oil properties and Standard test methods and specifications for petroleum products .
Tables below show typical volume% of the different distillation cuts for four crude oil specific gravities. The tabulated values are read from the trendlines in the figures above. As seen in the figures, some variation will occure, and this is due to differences in the crude oil origin, degradation history, geography and geology. The tabulated values are shown in column charts below the table.
| European marked | Distillation range | Whole crude specific gravity |
|||||
| Crude fraction | °C | °F | 0.800 | 0.840 | 0.880 | 0.920 | |
| C4s | - 5 | - 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Light naphtha | 5 - 90 | 41-194 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Heavy naphtha | 90 - 180 | 194 - 356 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | |
| Kero | 180 - 240 | 356 - 464 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | |
| Light gas oil | 240 - 320 | 464 - 608 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | |
| Heavy gas oil | 320 - 375 | 608 - 707 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | |
| Vacuum gas oil | 375 - 525 | 707 - 977 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 27 | |
| Atmospheric resid | 375+ | 707+ | 21 | 32 | 45 | 57 | |
| Vacuum resid | 525+ | 977+ | 6 | 12 | 20 | 30 | |
| Yields of crude fractions given in volume% | |||||||
| North American marked | Distillation range | Whole crude specific gravity |
|||||
| Crude fraction | °C | °F | 0.800 | 0.840 | 0.880 | 0.920 | |
| C4s | - 16 | - 60 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Light naphtha | 16 - 74 | 60 - 165 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| Heavy naphtha | 74 - 166 | 165 - 330 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 7 | |
| Kerosene | 166 - 249 | 330 - 480 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 9 | |
| Diesel | 249 - 343 | 480 - 650 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | |
| Vacuum gas oil | 343 - 538 | 650 - 1000 | 18 | 27 | 33 | 35 | |
| Atmospheric resid | 343+ | 650+ | 23 | 38 | 51 | 62 | |
| Vacuum resid | 538+ | 1000+ | 5 | 11 | 18 | 27 | |
| Yields of crude fractions given in volume% | |||||||
The yield values in vol% are read from the trendlines in the figures at the top of the page, and are the same as in the table above.
Related Topics
• Material Properties
Properties of gases, fluids and solids. Densities, specific heats, viscosities and more.
Related Documents
API Gravity
API expresses the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. Online API to Specific Gravity calculator.
Crude Oil - Density vs. Temperature
Variations in crude oil density are shown as function of temperatur, together with volume correction factors.
Crude Oil Metal (Ni, V) Content vs. Gravity
Content of nickel and vanadium in more than 120 crudes as function of specific gravity@15°C/60°F.
Crude Oil Properties - Standard test methods (ASTM and others)
An overview of common test methods and typical ranges of variation of petroleum quality parameters. What, why and how do the different test?
Crude Oil Viscosity vs. Gravity
Viscosity at 20°C/68°F and 50°C/122°F for more than 120 crudes is shown as function of specific gravity@15°C/60°F.
Density vs. Specific Weight and Specific Gravity
An introduction to density, specific weight and specific gravity.
Fossil vs. Alternative Fuels - Energy Content
Net (low) and gross (high) energy content in fossil and alternative fuels.
Fuel Oils - Densities vs. Temperature
Variations in fuel oils density as function of temperatur, together with volume correction factors.
Geological Time
Geological periods and time scale.
Hydrocarbons - Physical Data
Molweight, melting and boiling point, density, flash point and autoignition temperature, as well as number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in each molecule for 200 different hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbons - Autoignition Temperatures and Flash Points
Autoignition temperatures and flash points (°C and °F) of different types of hydrocarbons with varying carbon numbers up to C12.
Hydrocarbons, Alcohols and Acids - Boiling points
Boiling temperatures (°C and °F) with varying carbon numbers up to C33.
Hydrocarbons, Linear Alcohols and Acids - Densities
Density of hydrocarbons like alcohols and acids as function of carbon number at 20°C / 68°.
Jet Fuel - Density vs. Temperature
Variations in jet fuel density as function of temperatur, together with volume correction factors.
Lubricating Oil - Densities vs. Temperature
Variations in lubricating oil density as function of temperatur, together with volume correction factors.
Organic Nitrogen Compounds - Physical Data
Boiling and melting points of amines, diamines, pyrroles, pyridines, piperidines and quinolines shown together with their molecular structures, as well as molweights and density.
Organic Sulfur Compounds - Physical Data
Boiling and melting points of thoils, sulfides, disulfides and thiophenes shown together with molecular structures, as well as molweights and density.
Petroleum Products - Average Boiling Points
Definition, explanation and examples of calculation of various types of average boiling point of petroleum products and other mixtures of hydrocarbons: VABP, MABP, WABP, CABP and MeABP.
Petroleum Products - Standard Test Methods (ASTM and others) and Specifications
An overview of common test methods and specifications of petroleum fuels. What, why and how do the different test?