Physical and Chemical Properties of Petroleum Series

Name: Physical and Chemical Properties of Petroleum Series
Author: KnowledgeCity

The properties of petroleum have a major impact on the ways we locate, collect, and use this product.

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Course: On-Demand

Welcome to KnowledgeCity's course, the Physical and Chemical Properties of Petroleum. First, we'll examine the gases found in petroleum wells, starting with natural gases. Our focus will be on the common gases, like the smaller paraffins including methane, ethane, propane and butane. We'll also look at non-hydrocarbon gases in petroleum such as sulfur containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde. In addition, we'll talk about synthesis gases like hydrogen, carbon monoxide and ammonia. Gas hydrates, also known as clathrate hydrates, will also be covered. Clathrates are crystalline water-based solids that tend to resemble ice, but have small amounts of non-polar gasses trapped inside them. In the case of naturally occurring gas hydrates from petroleum, clathrates have methane or carbon monoxide as a primary component. Distillation is the main method used to separate these crude oil chemicals from each other. All of which serve a specific purpose in commercial use. Additional chemistry and classification will be reviewed for clarification. There are also many unconventional sources of petroleum besides traditional offshore or land-based wells. Tar sands can be a mixture of sand, clay and water. Often located in Canada, Russia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan. Oil shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that contains large deposits of kerogen, a fossilized organic material that yields petroleum products upon distillation. Tight oil is a light fraction of crude found in shale or sandstone. Tight oil gets its name because it exists in hard rock formations, which require hydraulic fracturing to extract it. Heavy oil refers to the high density oils as compared to light crude oil. Heavy oil is closely related to naturally occurring asphalt that are derived from oil sands. Deep water oil is found in water depths greater than 150 meters. We'll also discover the impact, the drilling and extraction of these unconventional petroleum sources have on the environment and public health.

Beginner Provider : KnowledgeCity 6 chapters · 17 Lessons · 58m in Arabic, English

Course Description

Society currently depends on crude oil and natural gas for survival and advancement, so drilling will continue for as long as reserves linger underneath the Earth’s surface. The good news is that there are measures being taken to improve the extraction processes and lessen their impact on our planet. The properties of petroleum have a major impact on the ways we locate, collect, and use this product. The environmental impacts of the various forms of petroleum production can be mitigated by increasing the development of renewable and biodegradable resources. Tapping new and less conventional sources can reduce environmental impact as technology advances, using less land and energy in the process, with less waste produced.

In this course, we’ll examine the hydrocarbon gases, non-hydrocarbon gases, synthesis gases, and gas hydrates found in petroleum wells. We’ll also discuss distillation and the many unconventional sources of petroleum besides traditional offshore or land-based wells, such as tar sands and oil shale. This course will also cover subjects like the different classifications of crude oil, tight oil, deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil, and the environmental impacts of unconventional petroleum sources.

What You'll Learn

Understand the physical and chemical differences between hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases found in petroleum wells
Explore unconventional sources of petroleum, including tar sands, oil shale, tight oil, and heavy oil
Learn the different classifications of crude oil, including deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil
Examine synthesis gases and gas hydrates and the process of distillation
Identify the environmental impacts of unconventional petroleum sources and new oils

Key Takeaways

Society currently depends on crude oil and natural gas, so drilling will continue for as long as reserves remain beneath the Earth's surface.
The properties of petroleum have a major impact on the ways we locate, collect, and use it.
Tapping new and less conventional sources can reduce environmental impact as technology advances, using less land and energy with less waste produced.
The course examines hydrocarbon gases, non-hydrocarbon gases, synthesis gases, and gas hydrates found in petroleum wells.
Environmental impacts of petroleum production can be mitigated by increasing the development of renewable and biodegradable resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does this course cover?

The course examines hydrocarbon gases, non-hydrocarbon gases, synthesis gases, and gas hydrates found in petroleum wells. It also discusses distillation and unconventional sources of petroleum such as tar sands and oil shale, along with crude oil classifications, tight oil, heavy oil, deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil, and the environmental impacts of unconventional petroleum sources.

What will I learn about crude oil in this course?

You will learn the different classifications of crude oil, including tight oil, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater oil, and how the physical and chemical properties of petroleum affect how it is located, collected, and used.

Does this course address environmental concerns?

Yes. It covers the environmental impacts of new and unconventional petroleum sources and notes that these impacts can be mitigated by developing renewable and biodegradable resources and by tapping less conventional sources that use less land and energy and produce less waste.

What skills does this course relate to?

The course relates to oil and gas, oil well operations, petroleum engineering, petroleum geology, and the petroleum industry.