HISTORY AND TERMINOLOGY OF CRUDE OIL 21
the chemical character and the amount of complex, higher-boiling
constituents in the feedstock. Refining these materials is not just a
matter of applying know-how derived from refining conventional
crude oils, but also requires knowledge of the chemical behavior of
these more complex constituents. Furthermore, although the elemental analysis of tar sand bitumen has also been widely reported
(Wallace et al, 1988; Speight, 1990), the data often suffers from the
disadvantage that identification of the source is too general and not
always site specific.
With all of the scenarios in place, there is no doubt that petroleum and its relatives: residua, and heavy oil, as well as tar sand
bitumen will be required to produce a considerable proportion of
liquid fuels into the foreseeable future. Desulfurization processes
will be necessary to remove sulfur in an environmentally acceptable
manner to produce environmentally acceptable products. Refining
strategies will focus on upgrading the heavy oils and residua and
will emphasize the differences between the properties of the feedstocks. This will dictate the choice of methods or combinations
thereof for the conversion of these materials to products (Schuetze
and Hofmann, 1984).
Because of the need for a thorough understanding of petroleum
and the associated technologies, it is essential that the definitions
and terminology of petroleum science and technology be given
prime consideration. This will aid in a better understanding of
petroleum, its constituents, and its various fractions. Of the many
forms of terminology that have been used, not all have survived,
but the more commonly used are illustrated here. Particularly troublesome and more confusing are those terms that are applied to the
more viscous materials, including the use of the terms bitumen and
asphalt. This part of the text attempts to alleviate much of the confusion that exists, but it must be remembered that the terminology of
petroleum is still open to personal choice and historical usage.
1.4.1 Petroleum
When petroleum occurs in a reservoir that allows the crude material to be recovered by pumping operations as a free-flowing
dark to light colored liquid, it is often referred to as conventional
petroleum.
Petroleum is a naturally occurring mixture of diverse hydrocarbons whose physical and chemical qualities reflect the different
the chemical character and the amount of complex, higher-boiling
constituents in the feedstock. Refining these materials is not just a
matter of applying know-how derived from refining conventional
crude oils, but also requires knowledge of the chemical behavior of
these more complex constituents. Furthermore, although the elemental analysis of tar sand bitumen has also been widely reported
(Wallace et al, 1988; Speight, 1990), the data often suffers from the
disadvantage that identification of the source is too general and not
always site specific.
With all of the scenarios in place, there is no doubt that petroleum and its relatives: residua, and heavy oil, as well as tar sand
bitumen will be required to produce a considerable proportion of
liquid fuels into the foreseeable future. Desulfurization processes
will be necessary to remove sulfur in an environmentally acceptable
manner to produce environmentally acceptable products. Refining
strategies will focus on upgrading the heavy oils and residua and
will emphasize the differences between the properties of the feedstocks. This will dictate the choice of methods or combinations
thereof for the conversion of these materials to products (Schuetze
and Hofmann, 1984).
Because of the need for a thorough understanding of petroleum
and the associated technologies, it is essential that the definitions
and terminology of petroleum science and technology be given
prime consideration. This will aid in a better understanding of
petroleum, its constituents, and its various fractions. Of the many
forms of terminology that have been used, not all have survived,
but the more commonly used are illustrated here. Particularly troublesome and more confusing are those terms that are applied to the
more viscous materials, including the use of the terms bitumen and
asphalt. This part of the text attempts to alleviate much of the confusion that exists, but it must be remembered that the terminology of
petroleum is still open to personal choice and historical usage.
1.4.1 Petroleum
When petroleum occurs in a reservoir that allows the crude material to be recovered by pumping operations as a free-flowing
dark to light colored liquid, it is often referred to as conventional
petroleum.
Petroleum is a naturally occurring mixture of diverse hydrocarbons whose physical and chemical qualities reflect the different