Composition of Crude Oils

Main groups of compounds in crude oils

Saturated Hydrocarbons:
Usually the major group, except in degraded
heavy oils; Contain normal plus isoalkanes
(paraffins) and cycloalkanes (naphthenes);
Relative abundance of paraffins and
naphthenes is rather comparable in many
crude oils, with the exception of paraffinic and
degraded heavy oils

Composition of Crude Oils

Aromatic Hydrocarbons:
Comprised of pure aromatics,
naphthenoauromatics (condensed
aromatic and saturated cycles) and
benzothiophene derivatives
(containing heterocycles with
sulfur)

Composition of Crude Oils

Resins and Asphaltenes
These are high molecular weight polycyclic
molecules containing N, S, and O atoms.
There is strong positive correlation between
the concentrations of aromatics, resins plus
asphaltenes and the sulfur content

Composition of Crude Oils

Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Comprised of pure aromatics,
naphthenoauromatics (condensed
aromatic and saturated cycles) and
benzothiophene derivatives
(containing heterocycles with
sulfur)

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