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Chapter VIII—The Physical and Chemical Properties of Kansas Petroleums

by W. A. Whitaker, F. W. Campbell and Clarence Estes

Division of State Chemical Research

Previous Work

Previous investigations, which have included the analytical characteristics of certain of the Kansas petroleums, have been carried out by Bailey (1897, p. 51-53), Bartow and McCollum (1903), Richardson (1906, p. 57, 81), Bushong (1908, p. 303-317), Day of the United States Geological Survey (1913, p. 1190), and others. For the purpose of comparing the properties of certain of these petroleums with some of those being produced at the present time, and herein later recorded, a summary of the analytical characteristics as determined by former investigators is given in Tables Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Table 1—Properties of Kansas Crude Petroleums. (Bushong, 1908, p. 314)

Field
No.
Location Specific
gravity,
60° F.
Baumé,
60° F.
Flash
point,
degrees F.
Burning
point,
degrees F.
5 Neodesha .8378 37.1 Below 40 Below 80
8 Bolton .8413 36.4 Below 40 Below 80
15 Peru (town) .8465 35.4 Below 40 Below 80
16 Peru (Huffman) .8473 35.2 Below 40 Below 80
14 Peru (Blundell) .8525 34.2 Below 40 Below 80
17 Paola .8573 33.3 Below 40 Below 80
12 Caney .8601 32.8 Below 40 Below 80
13 Peru (Alford) .8601 32.8 Below 40 Below 80
4 Humboldt .8622 32.4 Below 40 Below 80
19 Chanute .8639 32.0 Below 40 Below 80
7 Independence .8649 31.9 Below 40 Below 80
1 Erie .8674 31.4 Below 40 Below 80
2 Shaw .8684 31.2 43 115
11 Coffeyville .8706 30.8 Below 40 95
3 Urbana .8722 30.5 Below 40 Below 80
6 Moran .8749 30.0 Below 40 Below 80
9 South of Independence .9110 23.7 265 310
10 Benedict .9240 21.5 275 340
18 Burlington .9340 19.7 194 275

Table 2—Distillates from Kansas Petroleums, Percentage Yield. (Bushong, 1908, p. 315)

Field
No.
Gasoline
to 150° C.
by volume
Kerosene,
150°-300° C.
by volume
5 17.2 29.4
8 16.3 32.8
15 14.0 27.7
16 13.4 29.7
14 11.9 29.4
17 11.3 30.7
12 9.0 33.6
13 10.3 29.6
4 10.7 28.1
19 8.7 31.4
7 11.2 24.5
1 7.2 31.2
2 5.6 34.1
11 7.3 27.4
3 9.1 30.5
6 8.9 27.7
9   13.7
10   7.3
18   14.4

Table 3—Properties of Kansas Crude Petroleums. (Day, 1913, p. 1190)

Serial
No.
Location of Well Depth of well,
feet
Specific
gravity,
15.5° C.
Baumé,
60° F.
Begins to
distil
Paraffin,
percent
Asphalt,
percent
Allen County
Humboldt pool:
354 McKinley Crude Oil Co., Humboldt Settling tank .8878 27.7 123° C.
253° F.
3.93 2.33
355 McKinley Crude Oil Co., Logan township 851 .8895 27.4 110° C.
230° F.
1.92 2.68
356 Fussman lease, Logan township; Frank Fussman, Humboldt 850 .8822 28 7 108° C.
226° F.
2.10 1.03
357 Fussman lease, Logan township; Frank Fussman, Humboldt 850 . 8850 28.2 85° C.
185° F.
7.92 0.39
Chanute pool:
358 Hedrich lease, I. N. Knapp, Chanute 700 .8706 30.8 125° C.
257° F.
3.78 0.89
359 Beach lease, Rex Oil & Gas Co., Chanute 751 .8647 31.9 109° C.
228° F.
4.25 1.23
360 Beach lease, Rex Oil & Gas Co., Chanute 737 .8647 31.9 110° C.
230° F.
4.71 1.45
361 Kansas Cooperative Refining Co., Chanute Tank. .8615 32.5 90° C.
44° F.
1.45 1.50
362 Chanute Refining Co. Pipe line. .8637 32.1 113° C.
235° F.
4.32 1.15
Moran pool:
363 Carroll lease, Eastern Kansas Oil Co., Moran 735 .8794 29.2 95° C.
203° F.
1.21 2.63
364 Smith lease, Eastern Kansas Oil Co., Moran 535 .8799 29.1 78° C.
172° F.
3.48 1.88
365 Newton lease, E. I. Holman, Moran 735 .8712 30.7 75° C.
163° F.
3 94 2.67
366 Eastern Kansas Oil Co., Moran Pipe line. .8589 33.0 106° C.
223° F.
4.61 2.32
Chautauqua County
Peru pool:
367 Prairie Oil & Gas Co., Peru Station, Independence Pipe line. .8526 34 2 87° C.
189° F.
3.81 0.35
368 F. G. Hill's lease, Interstate Oil & Gas Co., Peru 1,070 .8557 33.6 110° C.
230° F.
5.79 1.53
369 Hill's lease, Central Pool Oil Co., Peru 1,100 .8521 34.3 80° C.
176° F.
5.24 0.20
370 Interstate lease, Pittsburg Oil & Gas Co., Peru 1,100 .8454 35.6 77° C.
171° F.
4.54 0.42
371 Interstate lease, Pittsburg Oil & Gas Co., Peru 1,100 .8500 34.7 66° C.
151° F.
5.41 0.34
Elk County
Longton pool:
372 Allen County Investment Co., Longton 585 .8637 32.1 98° C.
208° F.
7.19 0.89
373 Allen County Investment Co., Longton   .8631 32.2 96° C.
200° F.
4.30 1.56
Franklin County
Rantoul pool:
374 Springer lease, Hardison & Streeter, Rantoul 350 .8557 33.6 76° C.
168° F.
3.45 2.29
375 Tullows lease, Hardison & Streeter, Rantoul 350 .8750 30.0 136° C.
277° F.
3.98 2.80
Miami County
Paola pool:
378 C. J. Hafey, Paola 360 .8511 34.5 80° C.
176°F.
7.44 2.94
Montgomery County
Coffeyville pool:
379 Gilroy lease, Brown Brokerage Co., Coffeyville 600 8822 28.7 173° C.
343° F.
5.31 0.17
380 M. Davis lease, Dunkley & Odell, Coffeyville 625 .8717 30.6 100° C.
212° F.
   
381 T. Hall lease, Lynch & McSweeney, Wayside 800 .8696 31.0 75° C.
167° F. 1
4.66 0.61
382 T. Hall lease, Lynch & McSweeney, Wayside   .8838 28.4 81° C.
188° F.
   
Bolton pool:
383 G. L. Bank lease, Miller, Rider & Co., Independence 1,180 .8424 36.2 72° C.
162° F.
   
384 Prairie Oil & Gas Co., Station 5, Independence   .8495 34.8 109° C.
228° F.
6.31 0.55
Neosho County
Erie pool:
386 Webb lease. Northland Oil & Gas Co., Erie   .8739 30.2 .135° C.
275° F.
4.78 3.20
387 Barger lease, Buckeye Oil & Gas Co., Erie 520 .8658 31 7 110° C.
230° F.
1.22 0.88
388 Thayer   .8490 34.9      
Wilson County
Neodesha pool:
389 D. Johnson lease, Dolly Johnson Oil & Gas Co., Neodesha 800 .8373 37.2 80° C.
176° F.
   
390 T. Johnson lease, Prairie Oil & Gas Co., Neodesha 820 .8368 37.3 88° C.
190° F.
3.40 0.08
391 Dolly Johnson Oil & Gas Co., Neodesha Settling tank. .8568 33 4 135° C.
275° F.
5.79 0.10
392 Neodesha   .8350 37.7      
393 Neodesha   .8350 37.7      

Table 4—Gasoline obtained from Kansas petroleums by distilling to 150° C. (302° F.). (Day, 1913, p. 1190)

Serial
No.
Percent
volume
Specific
gravity,
15.5° C.
Baumé,
60° F.
354 1.0    
355 3.0    
356 5.0 .7460 57.6
357 3.5 .7515 56.3
358 3.0 .7500 56.7
359 5.0 .7350 60.5
360 6.0 .7355 60.4
361 7.5 .7156 65.6
362 4.5 .7405 59.1
363 8.0 .7275 62.5
364 10.0 .7105 67.1
365 7.5 .7190 66.9
366 3.0 .7330 61.0
367 7.0 .7244 63.3
368 7.0 .7311 61.5
369 12.0 .7160 65.5
370 11.0 .7218 64.0
371 13.0 .7177 65.0
372 12.0 .7202 64.0
373 6.0 .7360 60.2
374 11.5 .7116 66.7
375 1.0    
376 5.5 .7220 63.9
378 10.0 .7202 64.4
380 6.0 .7289 62.1
381 .9.5 .7100 67.2
382 5.0 .7315 61.4
383 14.7 .7273 62.5
384 7.0 .7358 60.3
386 1.0    
387 3.0    
388 16.7 .7282 62.3
389 17.0 .7172 65.2
390 16.0 .7185 64.9
391 1.0    
392 19.1 .7205 64.3
393 19.8 .7252 62.5

Present Investigation

Since the foregoing investigations were made, several new fields have been developed, prominent among which are the Augusta and El Dorado fields, and the impetus thus given to local production has caused the reexploration and extension of several of the older fields, such as the Paola, the Rantoul and others. In the present investigation the physical and chemical properties of twenty-two crude petroleums have been determined. Of this number, nine samples came from the new fields in Butler county (Augusta and El Dorado); six came from Miami county (Paola); and one each from Franklin, Woodson, Allen, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua and Cowley counties.

Methods Used

Sampling. Most of the samples which were used in this investigation were collected by one of the writers personally (Mr. F. W. Campbell). Others, Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 22, were received through. the kindness, respectively, of the Prairie Oil Company; Mr. E. E. Lyder, of the Empire Gas and Fuel Company; the Gypsy Oil Company; and Mr. W. B. Varner, of the Imperial Oil and Gas Company. The samples were taken at the well while pumping, and shipped in one-gallon wooden sheathed cans, which were stopped with cork and sealed with plaster of Paris. All samples reported herewith arrived at the laboratory intact and in good condition.

Specific Gravity. The specific gravity was determined in the ordinary form of pyknometer, holding approximately 25 cc. at 15° C. The Baumé gravity was calculated' from the specific gravity, using conversion tables given in Van Nostrand's Chemical Annual, 1913.

Viscosity. Viscosity was determined in an Engler viscosimeter at 20° C., the result being expressed in degrees Engler, which is the time of flow of oil divided by the time of flow of an equivalent volume of water.

Flash and Fire Points. Flash and fire points were determined in a Standard Abel tester. The higher boiling fractions were tested in an open glass cup two inches in diameter filled within a quarter of an inch of the top and heated on a sand bath, allowing the temperature to rise about two degrees per minute. A gas test flame, approximately the size of that used for the Abel tester, was used.

Fractionation. The Ubbelohde Engler method of distillation was used, samples of 800 cc. being distilled in a one-liter flask with a vertical condenser. Dry carbon dioxide was used to aid in removing the water in the first fractions. The lighter distillates were collected in bottles packed in ice. To facilitate the removal of the heavier distillates, the condenser water was warmed. Fractions were taken off as shown, allowing the flask to cool, followed by reheating several times to each temperature. After distillation the fractions were refined by shaking with one to two percent of 60° Baumé sulphuric acid, washing with water, neutralizing with 30° Baumé sodium hydroxide, washing with water again and drying over fused calcium chloride.

Index of Refraction. The index of refraction of the distillates was determined in an Abbe refractometer at 25° C. The instrument was checked against a Pulfrich refractometer and found to be accurate.

Paraffin. The method which is used by the German custom-house authorities was adopted for the determination of paraffin. It consists in distilling 100 grams of crude oil until a temperature of 300° C. is reached. The fraction obtained by distilling between 300° C. and coke, without the use of a condenser, is caught in a tared receiver and the weight of the distillate determined. To 5 to 10 grams of this distillate is added a one-to-one mixture of ether and absolute alcohol until a clear solution is obtained. The mixture is then cooled to -20° C. and just enough of the ether-alcohol mixture is added until all oily drops are dissolved and only the precipitated paraffin remains. The paraffin is then filtered by suction on a funnel surrounded by an ice-salt freezing mixture and washed free from oil by the ether-alcohol mixture which is cooled to -20° C. The filter paper containing the paraffin is then removed to another funnel and the paraffin dissolved and washed into a tared beaker with hot naphtha (B. P. 40-50° C.). The solvent is then evaporated on a water bath, and the contents dried at 105° C., cooled and weighed.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons. The unsaturated hydrocarbons were determined by the method of Kramer and Buttcher, which consists in adding an equal volume of concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. gr. 1.84) to the sample of oil contained in a graduated cylinder. The oil and acid are mixed, and, after standing several hours, centrifuged, and the volume of uncombined oil recorded. The difference between the original volume and uncombined oil is taken to represent the unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Calorific Value. The calorific value was determined by the formula developed by Sherman and Kroff (Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 30, p. 1626, 1908):

B. T. U. = 18,650 + 40 degrees Baumé - 10)

This method, as well as that used for the determination of sulphur, was resorted to because of the nonavailability of a bomb calorimeter at the time these tests were made.

Sulphur. The sulphur was determined by the method of Rathe, which is only of approximate accuracy (Houlde, D., Examination of Petroleum and Petroleum products, p. 40). To about 3 grams of the oil in a 300 cc. round-bottom pyrex flask is added 1.5 grams of magnesium oxide and 30 c.c. of nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.48). After the first violent reaction the flask is heated gently on a hot plate for about two hours. The temperature is then increased, the excess of nitric acid evaporated, and the heating continued until the nitrates begin to decompose. After cooling, 10 c.c. of concentrated nitric acid are added and the flask placed on the hot plate and evaporated to dryness. The flask is then heated with a burner until the nitrates are completely decomposed. The residue remaining is then dissolved in hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1.124) and filtered after diluting with 30 c.c. of water. The sulphates in the filtrate are determined by the barium chloride method.

Nitrogen. (Prutzman, Paul W., 1913, Petroleum in Southern California: California State Min. Bureau, Bull. 63, p. 40) Determinations of this element were made by a modification of the Kjeldahl process, in which the oil is oxidized by means of fuming sulphuric acid and permanganate until colorless, diluted, neutralized, and distilled, and the ammonia estimated in the usual manner.

Asphalt. The asphalt was determined by Holde's method, by weighing off 1 gram of residuum and shaking this with 40 c.c. of gasoline which was free from unsaturated hydrocarbons and which boiled between 65° and 95° C. After shaking, this is allowed to stand for 48 hours and the precipitated asphalt is dissolved in benzol, dried at 105°, and weighed. Accuracy greater than 1 percent is not claimed for these analyses.

Formolit Reaction. (Nastjukojf Test). (Houlde, D., Examination of Petroleum and Petroleum products.) When formaldehyde in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid is added to a mineral oil the unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons are precipitated. In this way a solid is obtained for which the name "formolit" has been suggested. The formolit number is the number of grams of dried formolit which are obtained from 100 grams of oil under definite conditions. The color of the formolit precipitates obtained in these tests on Kansas petroleums was uniformly a grayish brown.

Data Obtained in the Present Investigation

The physical and chemical properties of Kansas petroleums as determined in the present investigation are summarized in tables numbers 5 to 12, inclusive.

Table 5a—Properties of Kansas Crude Petroleums.

County Location Depth
of
wells
Lab No. Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
Viscosity,
20° C.
Flash Fire
Butler El Dorado, Murphy No. 11, S. 31, T. 25, R. 5 E. 2,400 1 .8190 40.9 1.46 7° C.
45° F.
8° C.
47° F.
Cowley Winfield, Clark No. 1, S. 6, T. 31, R. 4 E. 3,353 2 .8271 39.2 1.31 Below
0° C.
32° F.
 
Butler Augusta, G. W. Bell No. 1, S. 28, T. 27, R. 4 E. 2,448 3 .8270 39.2 1.38 5° C.
41° F.
7° C.
44° F.
Butler El Dorado, Weaver No. 1, S. 1, T. 28, R. 5 E. 2,473 4 .8312 38.4 1.39 4° C.
39° F.
6° C.
43° F.
Butler Augusta, Penley lease, S. 21, T. 27, R. 4 E.   5 .8320 38.2 1.46 Below
0° C.
32° F.
 
Butler El Dorado, Hazlett lease, S. 34, T. 25, R. 5 E.   6 .8381 37.0 1.54 12° C.
54° F.
17° C.
63° F.
Butler Douglass, Patterson lease, S. 18, T. 29, R. 4 E.   7 .8386 36.9 1.53 2° C.
36° F.
3° C.
38° F.
Butler El Dorado, Wilson No. 2, S. 27, T. 25, R. 5 E. 2,662 8 .8412 36.4 1.52 3° C.
37° F.
5° C.
41° F.
Butler El Dorado, Wrightsman-Foster No. 55, S. 31, T. 25, R. 5 E.   9 .8496 34.7 1.62 7° C.
46° F.
12° C.
53° F.
Butler Augusta, Anderson No. 1, S. 9, T. 27, R. 4 E. 1,980 10 .8526 34.2 2.09 3° C.
37° F.
5° C.
42° F.
Miami Paola, Chiles & Cooper lease, S. 9, T. 17, R. 22 E. 700-750 11 .8585 33.0 4.05 7° C.
45° F.
17° C.
63° F.
Miami Paola, C. B. Purcell lease, S. 35, T. 17, R. 23 E. 400-450 12 .8557 33.6 1.98 4° C.
39° F.
8° C.
46° F.
Miami Paola, Wingert No. 1, S. 9, T. 17, R. 22 E. 705 13 .8661 31.6 2.96 5° C.
41° F.
17° C.
63° F.
Wilson Guilford, S. 23, T. 28, R. 15 E.   14 .8662 31.6 3.29 5° C.
41° F.
7° C.
44° F.
Miami Paola, Lon Altman lease, S. 8, T. 17, R. 22 E. 750 15 .8671 31.4 3.19 8° C.
46° F.
23° C.
73° F.
Franklin Rantoul, Eliz. Tullos lease, S. 27, T. 17. R. 21 E. 650 16 .8703 30.8 2.98 9° C.
48° F.
13° C.
55° F.
Neosho Chanute, 2 miles north   17 .8710 30.7 2.73    
Miami Town lots of Paola, Little Cushing field 460 18 .8740 30.1 4.06 31° C.
87° F.
41° C.
105° F.
Chautauqua Oakley lease, S. 30, T. 32, R. 13 E.   19 .8782 29.4 3.39 11° C.
51° F.
14° C.
57° F.
Miami Paola, Day farm, S. 26, T. 17, R. 22 E.   20 .8860 28.0 6.17 32° C.
90° F.
37° C.
99° F.
Allen LaHarpe, S. 15, T. 24, R. 19 E.   21 .8895 27.4 6.74 13° C.
56° F.
21° C.
69° F.
Woodson Vernon, S. 8, T. 24, R. 16 E. 1,030 22 .9027 25.0 16.31 9° C.
49°F.
16° C.
60° F.

Table 5b—Properties of Kansas Crude Petroleums.

Laboratory
No.
B. T. U.
per pound
Sulphur,
percent
by
weighta
Paraffins,
percent
by
weight
Unsaturated
hydrocarbons,
percent
by volume
1 1988 0.14 1.54 14
2 19820 .11 1.67 8
3 19820 .21 1.61 12
4 19790 .15 2.61 12
5 19780 .14 2.34 12
6 19730 .12   14
7 19730 .25 1.93 16
8 19710 .13 1.62 16
9 19640 .21 2.19 12
10 19620 .42 1.24 28
11 19570 .28 2.13 30
12 19590 .11 1.25 12
13 19520   2.33 32
14 19510 .10 1.06 26
15 19510 .08 2.05 30
16 19480 .26 1.32 28
17 19480      
18 19460 .27 1.81 24
19 19430 .15 2.02 28
20 19370      
21 19350 .28 1.62  
22 19200      
a. Bartow and McCollum found an average of 0.27 percent sulphur, while Bushong reported an average of 0.35 percent sulphur. (Kan. Univ. Geol. Survey, vol. 9, p. 313, 1908.)

Table 6—Fractionation of Kansas Petroleums
To 150° C. (302° F.).

Lab No. Percent
by
volume
Percent
by
weight
Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
Refractive
index
25° C.
Flash Fire
3 23.9 20.8 .7249 63.1 1.4008   3° C.
37° F.
7 23.5 20.5 7354 60.4 1.4029 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
2 20.8 18.0 .7151 65.8 1.3961 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
10 20.3 17.2 .7230 63.6 1.3989 3° C.
37° F.
4° C.
39° F.
4 18.8 16.0 .7183 64.9 1.3941 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
5 17.7 15.3 .7216 64.0 1.3940 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
1 17.5 15.1 .7148 65.9 1.3955 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
9 17.5 14.9 7339 60.8 1.4047 8° C.
46° F.
10° C.
50° F.
8 16.7 14.2 7218 63.9 1.3950 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
15 15.4 13.6 7255 63 0 1.4024 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
6 15.3 13.3 .7189 64.8 1.3985 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
12 15.3 12.8 .7189 64.8 1.3984 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
13 13.6 11.2 .7257 62.9 1.3962 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
16 12.8 10.7 .7255 63.0 1.4001 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
11 12.4 10.2 .7217 64.0 1.3991 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
17 10.5 9.1 .7386 59.6 1.4057    
14 10.5 8.3 .7118 66 7 1.4123 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
19 9.4 7.8 .7294 61.9 1.3970 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
21 8.8 7.3 .7341 60.7 1.4200 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
22 8.7 7.3 .7211 64.1 1.4028 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.
18 7.4 6.4 .7384 59.9 1.4109 4° C.
39° F.
5° C.
41° F.
20 6.5 5.5 .7518 56.2 1.4108 Below
0° C.
32° F.
Below
0° C.
32° F.

Table 7—Fractionation of Kansas petroleums.
150° C. (302° F.) to 200° C. (392° F.).

Lab No. Percent
by
volume
Percent
by
weight
Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
Refractive
index
25° C.
Flash Fire
3. 13.0 12.3 .7808 49.3 1.4286 31° C.
88° F.
41° C.
106° F.
7 9.9 9.1 .7795 49.6 1.4262 25° C.
77° F.
27° C.
81° F.
2 11.1 10.5 .7817 49.1 1.4299 28° C
.82° F.
40° C.
104° F.
10 6.7 6.2 .7823 49.0 1.4293 28° C.
82° F.
37° C.
99° F.
4 13.4 12.2 .7690 52.1 1.4218 30° C.
86° F.
33° C.
92° F.
5 13.1 12.4 .7675 52.4 1.4171 24° C.
75° F.
28° C.
82° F.
1 160 15.2 .7641 53.3 1.4280 30° C.
86° F.
40° C.
104° F.
9 70 6.4 .7765 50.3 1.4265 31° C.
88° F.
48° C.
118° F.
8 13.9 13.0 .7775 50.1 1.4240 26° C.
79° F.
31° C.
88° F.
15 7.1 6.3 .7807 49.3 1.4284 36° C.
87° F.
43° C.
109° F.
6 13.5 12.4 .7730 51.1 1.4260 28° C.
82° F.
31° C.
88° F.
12 7.3 6.6 .7696 51.9 1.4241 30° C.
86° F.
33° C.
92° F.
13 9.8 8.7 .7747 50.7 1.4259 26° C.
79° F.
29° C.
84° F.
16 7.5 6.6 .7665 53.0 1.4275 32° C.
90° F.
36° C.
97° F.
11 7.9 7.0 .7804 49.4 1.4270 29° C.
84° F.
32° C.
90° F.
17 7.0 6.4 .7725 52.2 1.4180    
14 9.4 8.2 .7773 50.1 1.4410 24° C.
75° F.
27° C.
81° F.
19 8.5 7.4 .7740 50.9 1.4210 26° C.
79° F.
31° C.
88° F.
21 6.0 5.2 .7765 50.3 1.4391    
22 5.2 4.4 .7764 50.3 1.4298 24° C.
75° F.
28° C.
72° F.
18 9.3 8.2 .7768 52.1 1.4280 27° C.
81° F.
30° C.
86° F.
20 6.0 5.7 .7862 48.1 1.4315    

Table 8—Fractionation of Kansas Petroleums
200° C. (392° F.) to 250° C. (482° F.).

Lab No. Percent
by
volume
Percent
by
weight
Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
Refractive
index
25° C.
Flash Fire
3 11.0 10.8 .8151 41.7 1.4477 82° C.
180° F.
91° C.
196° F.
7 10.5 10.1 .8117 42.5 1.4443 64° C.
147° F.
69° C.
156° F.
2 16.8 16.3 .8071 43.6 1.4446 75° C.
167° F.
78° C.
172° F.
10 12.4 11.8 .8137 42.1 1.4461 50° C.
122° F.
62° C.
144° F.
4 12.7 12.1 .8025 44.4 1.4398 61° C.
142° F.
67° C.
153° F.
5 13.3 13.1 .8285 39.0 1.4415 70° C.
158° F.
75° C.
167° F.
1 8.4 8.4 .8176 41.3 1.4470 82° C.
180° F.
88° C.
190° F.
9 13.5 12.9 .8120 42.4 1.4461 76° C.
169° F.
84° C.
183° F.
8 11.1 11.0 .8059 43.7 1.4445 73° C.
163° F.
81° C.
178° F.
15 9.2 8.5 .8150 41. 8 1.4461 72° C.
162° F.
89° C.
192° F.
6 14.1 13.6 .8089 43.1 1.4451 73° C.
163° F.
82° C.
180° F.
12 10.3 9.7 .8039 44.2 1 4428 60° C.
140° F.
66° C.
151° F.
13 9.2 8.5 .8078 43.3 1. 4441 67° C.
153° F.
72° C.
162° F.
16 9.3 8.5 .8076 43.4 1.4437 60° C.
140° F.
67° C.
153° F.
11 10.1 9.4 .8114 42.5 1 4443 65° C.
149° F.
71° C.
160° F.
17 13.3 12.5 .8118 42.4 1.4432    
14 7.8 7.0 .8064 43.6 1.4579 62° C.
144° F.
69° C.
156° F.
19 8.0 7.2 .7988 45.3 1.4378 63° C.
146° F.
67° C.
153° F.
21a 6.7 5.9 .8103 42.8 1. 4581    
22 8.5 8.0 .8163 41. 5 1.4495 68° C.
154° F.
71° C.
160° F.
18 12.5 11.8 .8114 42.5 1. 4463 62° C.
144° F.
68° C.
154° F.
20. 13.0 12.2 .7923 46.7 1.4488    
a Showed evidence of cracking.

Table 9—Fractionation of Kansas petroleums.
250° C. (482° F.) to 300° C. (572° F.).

Lab No. Percent
by
volume
Percent
by
weight
Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
Refractive
index
25° C.
Flash Fire
3 17.8 17.6 .8434 36.6 1.4648 102° C.
216° F.
127° C.
260° F.
7 9.5 9.5 .8372 37.2 1.4590 104° C.
219° F.
110° C.
230° F.
2 13.0 13.0 .8455 35.6 1. 4667 92° C.
198° F.
114° C.
237° F.
10 10.1 10.1 .8424 36.2 1. 4627 115° C.
239° F.
122° C.
252° F.
4 11.1 11.1 .8280 39.0 1. 4545 92° C.
198° F.
99° C.
210° F.
5 14.3 14.3 .8380 37.1 1.4575 101° C.
214° F.
112° C.
234° F.
1 15.3 15.3 .8396 36.8 1. 4620 113° C.
235° F.
122° C.
251° F.
9 16.3 16.0 .8400 36.7 1. 4635 107° C.
225° F.
121° C.
250° F.
8 18.2 18.0 .8433 36.0 1.4629 85° C.
185° F.
100° C.
212° F.
15 12.5 11.9 .8395 36.7 1.4608 81° C.
178° F.
103° C.
217° F.
6 17.8 17.2 .8371 37.2 1.4620 90° C.
194° F.
103° C.
217° F.
12 11.7 11.5 .8333 37.9 1.4590 96° C.
205° F.
102° C.
216° F.
13 11.1 10.7 .8369 37.3 1. 4594 91° C.
196° F.
103° C.
217° F.
16 12.5 11.8 .8379 37.1 1.4603 94° C.
201° F.
103° C.
217° F
11 10.6 10.1 .8425 36.2 1.4611 93° C.
200° F.
102° C.
216° F.
17 12.6 12.6 .8480 35.1 1.4609    
14 10.8 10.1 .8346 37.7 1.4720 88° C.
190° F.
96° C.
205° F.
19 12.8 11.7 .8307 38.5 1. 4531 97° C.
207° F.
96° C.
205° F.
21 7.6a 6.9 .8342 37.8 1.4715    
22 9.0 8.9 .8453 35.6 1.4651 112° C.
234° F.
119° C.
246° F.
18 13.4 12.8 .8321 38.2 1.4622 92° C.
198° F.
103° C.
217° F.
20 9.5 9.2 .8484 35.0 1.4622    
a Showed evidence of cracking.

Table 10—Fractionation of Kansas petroleums, percent b,y weight.

Lab. No. Water Residue Loss on
distillation
3 Trace 37.1 1.4
7 Trace 49.5 1.3
2 Trace 41.3 0.9
10 Trace 53.7 1.0
4 .7 47.8 0.1
5 1.3 40.7 2.9
1 Trace 45.4 0.6
9 2.4 47.1 1.0
8 Trace 41.7 2.1
15 7.2 51.9 0.0
6 .1 42.8 0.6
12 4.6 53.7 1.1
13 Trace 60.0 0.3
16 4.0 54.8 3.5
11 Trace 61.7 1.6
17 .6 57.1 1.7
14 .8 63.9 1.7
19 1.9 61.3 2.7
21 .8 70.5 3.4
22 .8 66.9 3.7
18 Trace 60.5 0.3
20 .9 65.0 1.5

Determinations of nitrogen, asphaltene and formolit number were restricted to five samples which came from as many different fields.

Table 11—Nitrogen, asphaltene and formolit from Kansas petroleums.

Lab No. Nitrogen,
percent
by weight
Asphaltene,
percent
by weight
Formolit
No.
2 .08 1.99 12.6
3 .08 0.77 19.5
6 .08 0.88 12.7
12 .08 1.71 14.6
19 .09 0.61 25.3

Table 12—Percent of gasoline by volume from Kansas petroleums, based on two standards.

Lab No. To 150° C.
(302° F.)
percent
by volume
To 200° C.
(392° F.)
percent
by volume
3 23.9 36.9
7 23.5 33.4
2 20.8 31.9
10 20.3 27.0
4 18.8 32.2
5 17.7 30.8
1 17.5 33.5
9 17.5 24.5
8 16.7 30.6
15 15.4 22.5
6 15.3 28.8
12 15.3 22.6
13 13.6 23.4
16 12.8 20.3
11 12.4 20.3
17 10.5. 17.5
14 10.5 19.9
19 9.4 17.9
21 8.8 14.8
22 8.7 13.9
18 7.4 16.7
20 6.5 12.5

Following the completion of the foregoing analyses and tabulations, a sample from the famous Trapshooter well No. 2 (Sec. 11, T. 26 S., R. 4 E.), Butler county, was received and examined (sample secured by Dr. W. P. Haynes, State Geological Survey of Kansas). Its characteristics are given below. This well was one of the largest producers in the state, having begun production in June, 1917, with an estimated daily flow of 20,000 barrels.

Properties of crude petroleum from Trapshooter well No. 2, Butler county
Specific Gravity, 15° C. Baumé,
59° F.
Began
to distil
Residue
and loss
Water
.8516 34.4 153° F. 70.2 None

Fractionation of petroleum from Trapshooter well No. 2, Butler county
Temperature Percent
by
volume
Percent
by
weight
Specific
gravity,
15° C.
Baumé,
59° F.
To 150° C. (302° F.) 6.0 5.1 .7243 63.0
150° C. (302° F.) to 200° C. (392° F.) 13.5 12.0 .7576 54.8
200° C. (392° F.) to 250° C. (482° F.) 13.5 12.7 .7959 45.9

Table 13—Comparison of Kansas petroleums with those of other states.

State No.
of
samples
Specific gravity Gasoline to
150° C. percent
by volume
Sulphur,
percent
by weight
Paraffin,
percent
by weight
Asphalt,
percent
by weight
Unsaturated in
crudes, percent
by volume
Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min
Kansas:                          
Bushong, 1908(a) 18 .9340 .8378 17.2 0.0 .76 27            
U. S. Geological Survey, 1913(b) 38 .8895 .8350 19.8 1.0     7.92 1.21 3.20 0.8 50.0 12.4
Present Investigation, 1917. 22 .9027 .8190 23.9 5.5 .42 .08 2.67 1.06 1.99 0.61 32.0 8.0
California(c) 287 .9745 .8875 2.0   3.55 .34     59.1 32.2    
Colorado(d) 6 .8997 .8092 28.0 1.0     27.23 9.23        
Illinois 47 .9236 .8260 23.0 1.0 .73 .10 5.48 1.96 5.04 .38    
Indiana 5 .9371 8500 17.4 7.2 1.26 .72     47.0 2.9    
Kentucky 18 .9021 .8083 27.0 1.0     5.49 2.13 2.66   63.0 2.0
Louisiana 21 .9669 .8065 15.0 0.57 1.05   7.78   9.0   8.8 6.8
Michigan 2 .8333 .8065 15.0       .78          
Missouri 1     10.0       8.0          
New Mexico 4 .9186 .8951 1.0 Trace         3.91   28.4 20.0
Ohio 36 .8500 .7739 29.65 4.0     11.24 2.23     22.8 2.8
Oklahoma 77 .8844 .7887 22.0 Trace     12.45 1.24 4.01   57.2 10.0
Pennsylvania 7 .8861 .7901 21.0 8.55   .06            
Texas 44 .9708 .8250 34.6e O.1f 2.40 .94 7.02   20.0   66.8 12.8
Utah 12 .9511 .8202 12.0   1.38 .18 29.4 3.4 5.9 0.49 21.2 14.4
West Virginia 62 .8895 .7684 24.5 1.0     9.73   Trace   32.8  
Wyoming 58 .9960 .7821 28.0   .66   8.0   15.26   58.0 8.4
a Loc. cit.
b Loc. cit.
c U. S. Buteau of Mines, Technical Paper 74.
d Data for Colorado and other states digested from Mineral Resources of the U. S., part II, 1913.
e to 140° C.
f to 160° C.

Table 14—Showing the relative heating values of various representative fuel oils. (Johnson & Huntley, Principles of Oil and Gas Production, p. 7, 1916.)

Crude petroleum British
thermal
units
Average six samples Cushing crude 19,755
Average five samples Boston pool, Oklahoma 19,661
Average of crudes from thirty Oklahoma pools 19,567
Pennsylvania heavy crude 20,736
Caucasian light 22,027
Caucasian heavy 20,138
Petroleum refuse 19,832
Average fuel oil 18,900
Mexican fuel oil (Panuco?) 18,000
California fuel oil 18,630
Gulf coast fuel oil 19,028
Caddo, Louisiana 19,163
Lima-Indiana field 18,900
Austrian and Russian petroleum residues 18,900
Kansas Crudes, 1917 19,250-19,880
>

What is Gasoline?

A question often asked by the consumer, and one that should be answered soon, either by national authority or by common agreement of all concerned, is, What is gasoline?

The answering of this question fifteen or more years ago merely involved a simple statement concerning which there was little reason for debate. Kerosene was then the product most desired, and though at that time, and since, there has existed considerable looseness, or elasticity, regarding the definition of gasoline, the lesser demand for this product was not sufficient to create controversy regarding its specifications. It may be of interest to quote here some definitions which have appeared in the literature of the subject at various times. [Note: B. P., boiling point; Sp. Gr., specific gravity; Be., Baumé.]

1896. Redwood Boverton, Petroleum and its Products, vol. I, p. 203.
Gasoline: "B. P. 70°-80° C. (158°-176° F.); Sp. Gr. .640-.667 (89-80 Be.)"
1912. Norris, Principles of Organic Chemistry, p. 41.
"Gasoline is the name given to a product which contains the hydrocarbons found in naphtha, benzine and ligroin."
1912. Allen, Commercial Organic Analysis, vol. 3, p. 111.
Gasoline: Sp. Gr. .622-.666 (95-80 Be.).
1912. Sadtler, Industrial Organic Chemistry, p. 31.
Gasoline: B. P. 70°-80° C. (158°-176° F.); Sp. Gr. .660-.690 (80-75 Be.).
1913. Martin, Industrial Chemistry, Organic, p. 8.
Gasoline (petroleum ether, solene): B. P. 40°-70° C. (104°-158° F.); Sp. Gr. .64-.65 (89-85 Be.).
1913. Southcombe, Chemistry of the Oil Industries, p. 56.
"Motor spirit, or light benzine, varies in gravity from .650 to .720 and distils completely between 30° and 120° C. (860-248° F.) to 140° C. (284° F.).
1916. Holde, Examination of Hydrocarbon Oils, p. 51.
German Specifications: "The material must have been obtained by fractional distillation and should be free from water and all substances likely to injure the motors. Filter paper moistened with the naphtha should not show spots or give a persisting odor. Running through a sieve should not separate the naphtha into fine drops. It should be of uniform composition, not a mixture of high- and low-boiling products. Light naphtha should distill 80 percent under 100°, all under 130°; heavy naphtha, 50 percent under 100° C. (212° F.), all under 130° C. (266° F.); heavy naphtha, 50 percent under 100° C. (212° F.), all under 140° C. (284° F.). The naphtha must be carefully purified, have no color and only a faint odor. Naphtha for passenger service should have a specific gravity of 0.70 (70° B.) to 0.72 (64° B.) at 15° (59° F.); for commercial trucks, 0.720 (64° B.) to 0.750 (56° B.).
1916. Bacon and Hamor, American Petroleum Industry, vol. I, p. 124.
"The fraction between the initial boiling point and 150° C. (302° F.) constitutes the gasoline fraction."

However, conditions at the present time as regards gasoline are decidedly different from those of a few years ago. The passing years have witnessed an enormous growth in the production and use of the motor car, with a corresponding demand for the propulsive agent, gasoline. This demand has now reached a point where the rate of production of motor cars is surpassing the rate of production of the necessary fuel. As the demand for motor fuel has increased it has been found necessary to evolve new methods of production, such as are included under the "cracking" and "pressure distillation" processes; and in the ordinary distillation process it has seemed expedient to include in the gasoline fraction distillates which Were not formerly included. Furthermore, a considerable amount of gasoline has been obtained from casing-head gas by the compression and absorption methods. These newer methods of production have yielded gasolines possessing different properties from those formerly associated with the product, and this has led to an enlargement of the original conception of gasoline, with a consequent widening of the distillate and gravity limits.

These changes in the physical and chemical properties of motor fuel were destined to bring about dissatisfaction among those who were unaccustomed to their use, or whose motors were designed for distillates of different properties. On the other hand, when kept within those limits which have allowed the product to serve as a satisfactory combustion agent in the present-day type of motor, such changes have been fully justified, on a basis of economy and conservation.

An investigation which was made a few months ago by C. V. Bacon (1917, Petroleum Age, vol. 4, p. 2) on twenty different samples of gasoline which were produced at widely scattered points over the United States showed that there was a range in gravity (Baumé) from 52.4 to 84. The beginning point in distillation ranged from 81° F. to 142° F., except in the case of one sample, which began distillation at 203° F. The end point of distillation ranged from 334° F. to 475° F. The author states that while 203° F. is a little high in initial boiling point for use as automobile motor spirit, this material is very well adapted for use in stationary gas engines. As regards the other samples, in spite of the seemingly wide discrepancies, these fuels have "been satisfactorily used in internal-combustion engines, in automobiles or in trucks."

A report (1916, Petroleum Age, vol. 3, p. 10) presented at a recent meeting of the Independent Oil Men's Association proposed an end point for gasoline distillation from 380° to 400° F., which is equivalent to 205° C. The Bureau of Mines has suggested a dry point (end of distillation) at 220° C. (428° F.).

Dr. C. F. Mabery (1916, Petroleum Age, vol. 4, p. 3.), a noted petroleum technologist whose opinion on this subject should carry weight, suggests that a dry point of 250° C. (482° F.) is not too high, and it may be even higher.

In the absence of national regulations for gasoline quality, many states have attempted individually to establish legal standards for motor fuel offered for sale within their boundaries. This action is analogous with that of former years when it became necessary to establish regulations regarding the sale of kerosene. Unfortunately, there is a lack of agreement between these state laws and there seems to exist now a real need for coordination and standardization. The federal government in its enactment of the pure food and drug law has set a national precedent in the regulation of these products which might be appropriately followed by similar regulations regarding a product so widely used as gasoline. The user is entitled to a fuel which burns satisfactorily in his motor; the refiner is entitled to encouragement in his efforts at increased production and he should be protected from possible specifications which may be too exacting. That these viewpoints are not irreconcilable is shown by the present great production and consumption of motor fuel.

In general it may be said that an ideal gasoline for motor cars should have an initial distillation point that is low enough to allow of easy starting of the motor under different climatic conditions, and a final distillation point (dry point) that is not so high as to cause excessive carbon deposition. The range of intermediate distillates should present an unbroken chain of boiling points, and if these temperatures be plotted against the corresponding percentages the result should be a smooth curve.

The law governing the sale of gasoline in Kansas is given below.

State Oil-Inspection Law for Kansas

(Chapter 245, Laws of 1917.)

Sec. 6. In testing by said inspector or his deputies of all kerosene oils for illuminating purposes they shall reject all such oil as will emit combustive vapor at a temperature of less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The oil tester known as "the Foster automatic cup" shall be used in the making of these tests, and the oil shall not be heated faster than two degrees per minute. All kerosene oils for illuminating purposes shall not show a lower flash point than the 110 degrees Fahrenheit above mentioned. All gasoline that is used for heating, illuminating and power purposes shall be tested and graded, and all said gasoline used for heating, illuminating and power purposes shall he subjected to the following test: Said gasoline shall be of water-white color, sweet and free from obnoxious odors, and shall be weighed by hydrometer of Tagliabues, or some other standard and reliable weight of hydrometer (the temperature at time of test 60 degrees Fahrenheit). All gasoline graded and tested offered for sale in Kansas shall not be heavier than 58 degrees Baumé, at 60 degrees temperature : and shall show by it fractional distillation test an initial boiling point not to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and an end point (or dry point) of not more than 410 degrees Fahrenheit, with no gaps, and all gasoline or fluid sold as such not meeting with the test above prescribed shall be known and sold as "gasoline under-test."

Sec. 7. All benzine shall have a gravity of not less than 43.5 Baumé gravity, and it shall be unlawful for any dealer, vendor or refiner to sell or offer for sale any kerosene, gasoline or benzine which does not comply with the test specified in this act, and any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) and not more than five hundred ($500) for each and every offense.


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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
Placed on web Aug. 10, 2018; originally published 1917.
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