A
Asphaltenes
They are polycyclic aromatic compounds, insoluble in n-heptane, with a carbon atom count exceeding 50. The asphaltene content of crude oil can cause deposits in heat exchangers and/or pipelines. In fact, the mixture of crude oil with a high asphaltene content with paraffinic crude oil can shift the equilibrium in which the asphaltenes are found, causing them to precipitate. A high asphaltene content ensures that the vacuum pitch will serve to produce asphalt.
Sulfur
The sulfur content allows us to visualize difficulties in meeting product specifications and atmospheric emissions because treatment units are needed to meet them. Additionally, sulfur is a poison for some catalysts. It also helps determine if the metallurgy of the plant is suitable for processing it. It is expressed as a weight percentage.
B
Basic Sediment and Water (BSW)
BSW corresponds to the content of free (undissolved) water and sediments (silt, sand) present in crude oil. It is important for its value to be low to avoid impurities and difficulties during crude oil processing since the vaporization of free water can damage the furnace. It is reported as a volume percentage of the crude oil.
Brent Dated
Brent Dated is a benchmark crude for international prices, produced in the North Sea off the coast of the United Kingdom. Several international companies are involved in its exploitation, which ensures a high level of market dynamism, despite the fact that it represents a small proportion of the global crude oil production volume.