ASTM D6377-03

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An American National Standard
Designation:D6377–03
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Vapor Pressure of Crude Oil:
1
VPCR (Expansion Method)
x
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6377; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 3.1.1 dead crude oil—a term usually employed for crude
oils that, when exposed to normal atmospheric pressure at
1.1 This test method covers the use of automated vapor
room temperature, will not result in actual boiling of the
pressure instruments to determine the vapor pressure of crude
sample.
oils at temperatures between 5 and 80°C for vapor-liquid ratios
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Sampling and handling of dead crude
from 4:1 to 0.02:1 (X=4to 0.02) and pressures from 7 to 500
oils can usually be done without problems in normal sample
kPa (1.0 to 70 psi).
containers, such as cans and so forth. The use of pressure
1.2 The values stated in SI units are regarded as standard.
cylinders for (sub)sampling and sample storage is a necessary
The inch-pound units given in parentheses are provided for
and mandatory requirement in this test method for live crude
information only.
oils and, to prevent the loss of volatile material and preserve
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
precision,isstronglyrecommendedfordeadcrudeoilsaswell.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.2 live crude oil—a term usually employed for crude oils
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
contained in pressurized systems that, when brought to normal
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
atmospheric pressure at room temperature, will result in actual
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
boiling of the sample.
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.2.1 Discussion—Sampling and handling of samples of
2
livecrudeoilswillnecessitatetheuseofpressurecylindersand
2.1 ASTM Standards:
preclude the use of normal sample containers, such as cans and
D 323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
so forth.
ucts (REID Method)
3.1.3 Reid vapor pressure equivalent (RVPE)—a value cal-
D 2892 Test Method for Distillation of Crude Petroleum
culated by a correlation equation (see 14.3 and Appendix X1)
(15-Theoretical Plate Column)
from VPCR , which is related to the value obtained on the
D 3700 Practice for Obtaining LPG Samples Using a Float- 4
sample by Test Method D 323.
ing Piston Cylinder
3.1.4 vapor-liquid ratio (V/L), n—the ratio of the vapor
D 4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
volume to the liquid specimen volume.
Petroleum Products
3.1.4.1 Discussion—The total measuring chamber volume
D 4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
is the sum of the vapor volume and the liquid specimen
Petroleum Products
volume.
D 5191 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
3.1.5 vapor pressure of crude oil (VPCR , n—the pressure
ucts (Mini Method) x)
exerted in an evacuated chamber at a vapor-liquid ratio of X:1
D 5853 Test Method for Pour Point of Crude Oils
by conditioned or unconditioned crude oil, which may contain
3. Terminology
gas, air or water, or a combination thereof, where X may vary
from 4 to 0.02.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4. Summary of Test Method
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
4.1 Employing a measuring chamber with a built-in piston,
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
a sample of known volume is drawn from a pressurized
D02.08 on Volatility.
sampling system (floating piston cylinder) into the temperature
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 6377 – 99.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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D6377–03
in generating the precision and bias statements were constructed of nickel
controlled chamber at 20°C or higher. After sealing the
plated aluminum and stainless steel with a total volume of 5 mL.
chamber, the volume is expanded by moving the piston until
Measuring chambers exceedinga5mL capacity and having a differ
...