Chemistry of Petroleum

Mourad.Hosni@hotmail.com

12/9/2010

Mourad Hosni
http://www.scribd.com/MouradHosni
Crude Oil: is a mixture of hydrocarbons that exist in the liquid phase
in natural underground reservoirs, and remain liquid at atmospheric
pressure after passing through separating facilities.

In terms of elemental chemistry, oil consists largely of carbon,

hydrogen, and some traces of other elements [listed in the proceeding
table].

Chemical composition of crude oils by weight %

1
Compounds Found in Crude Oil

1- Hydrocarbons:
1- Paraffins [alkanes]
2- Naphthenes [cycloalkanes]
3- Aromatics
2- Heterocompounds

Paraffins:

Also called Alkanes, they are saturated hydrocarbons. Have the

formula: CnH2n+2

For n < 5 Paraffins are gaseous at room’s temperature and pressure.

For 5 ≤ n ≥ 15 Paraffins are liquid at room’s temperature and pressure.

For n > 15 Paraffins grade from viscous liquids to solid wax.

e.g. Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, Pentane…etc

Heptane C7H16

2
Naphthenes:

Also called Cycloalkanes, have a general formula CnH2n

They occur in a homologous series consisting of 5 and 6 membered

carbon rings called: cyclopentane, and cyclohexane. All naphthenes are
liquid at room’s temperature and pressure. They make up 40% of both
heavy and light crude oil.

3
Aromatics:

Their molecular structure is based on a ring of six carbon atmos. The

simplest member of this family is benzene (C6H6). Aromatic
hydrocarbons are liquid at normal temperature and pressure. They
present in minor amounts (10%) in light oils, to more than 30 % in
heavy ones.

Toluene (C6H5CH3) is the most common aromatic compound in crude

oil.

4
Heterocompounds:

They are compounds contain elements other than Carbon and

Hydrogen. Principal elements of these compounds are oxygen,
hydrogen, and sulfur together with rare metal atoms, e.g. nickel, and
vanadium.

Oxygen compounds range between 0.06 and 0.4 %

Nitrogen compounds range between 0.01 and 0.9 %

Sulfur compounds range between 0.1 and 7.0 %