Applicability Study of Rotational Method Based From ASTM D5985 for Crude Oil Pour Point Measurement

Accurate measurement of crude oil physical properties is important in ensuring the parameters are defined clearly before the result could be used for further field implementation. One of the important parameter in flow assurance of crude oil is pour point, defined as the lowest temperature at which movement of the specimen is observed under specific condition. Up until the time this report is written, only one standard method available to measure the pour point of crude oils published by American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) designated ASTM D5853. However, physical action upon the crude by tilting during measurement is believed to affect the pour point measured, hence giving different measured values from the actual. In this project, alternative method is proposed, which is ASTM D5985 – Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products (Rotational Method). It is understood that this standard is designed to measure the pour point of petroleum products only and it is not intended for use with crude oil. Therefore, study on the pour point obtained using the tilt method and rotational method with respect to the type of sample is conducted and compared to find out if this rotational method is applicable to be used with crude oils or not.