COMPOSITION OF HEAVY PETROLEUMS .4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EXTENDED ATMOSPHERIC EQUIVALENT BOILING-POINT (AEBP) SCALE

The first two papers in this series (Energy Fuels 1987, 1, 2; 1988, 2, 597) discussed the variation of the chemical composition of heavy petroleum fractions with increasing atmospheric equivalent boiling point (AEBP) up to about 760-degrees-C (1400-degrees-F). The third paper (this issue) described three correlations developed for the calculation of AEBPs from molecular weight and one more measurement, either specific gravity or H/C ratio or refractive index. In this paper we discuss the value of extending the AEBP scale to encompass the entire heavy crude oil, down to the "bottom of the barrel". The AEBP distribution curves, extending up to approximately 1650-degrees-C (3000-degrees-F), allow the comparison of heavy petroleums and their fractions on a common, rational basis. We present data for several heavy crude oils to demonstrate the continuity of changing petroleum composition as a function of AEBP. Such continuity of change is important when interpolating or extrapolating physical and chemical properties of petroleum fractions. It also provides decisive clues in the interpretation of analytical measurements performed on "heavy end" fractions.