Volatility limits pose serious problems

Journal Article · Mon Apr 07 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5698961

Unzelman, G H

Gasoline volatility limits will cause serious problems in the near term for petroleum refiners. Refinery operations have increasingly generated more light material with the shift from lead antiknocks to processing to meet gasoline pool octane requirements. The burden to solve these problems will fall on the petroleum industry to commit capital for condensation processes to convert the excess light material to gasoline. Adequate time for orderly process revamps would lessen the economic impact, but the end result could be a higher price for gasoline relative to the cost of crude oil. The seriousness of the situation is verified by trends that show a steady rise in the volatility of gasoline reaching the marketplace. The basic problem relates to an increasing imbalance between conversion and condensation processes. Butanes generated in petroleum refining are traditionally blended to gasoline or used as feed for condensation or petrochemical operations. Additional normal butane (n-butane, nC/sub 4/) purchased from natural gas processors is also absorbed in gasoline. The increasing surplus of light ends, symbolized by nC/sub 4/, the ''swing hydrocarbon'' for volatility control, is being absorbed in the gasoline pool. The economic incentive in 1985 to absorb butane in gasoline ranges from 10 to 35 cents/gal of butane, depending on geography and season. The octane incentive is equally attractive and, as a gasoline component, butane is several blend numbers above regular unleaded gasoline.

• Research Organization: HyOx Inc., Fallbrook, CA
• OSTI ID: 5698961
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 84:14; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
ALKANES
ANTIKNOCK RATINGS
CAPITAL
ELEMENTS
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
LEAD
LIQUID FUELS
METALS
OCTANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
VAPOR CONDENSATION
VOLATILITY