Comparative Evaluation of Physical Properties of Some Yemeni Crude and Fuel Oil

Abstract

Due to the high significance of crude oil to modern society as a source of energy and as raw material for a wide chemical and petrochemical industries; in this study, we evaluate the characteristics of certain Yemeni crude, and fuel oils specifically Mareb crude oil blend, Masila crude oil blend plus two samples from Sounah and Hijah oil fields in Masila basin. The general specifications of these crudes and fuel oils are determined and compared with some other regional and international types including Brent and West Texas benchmark crudes using the published data in the specialized literature. It is revealed that Mareb crude oil blend is the lightest and sweetest crude oil followed by Sounah crude while Masila is considered Medium crude and Hijah field is the heaviest with medium sulfur content. Mareb, Masila blends, and Sounah field fuel oils are considered low sulfur fuel oils with sulfur content below the 1% standard marketable fuels; while the Hijah fuel oil slightly above, and this is absorbed within the marketable blend.