How Do You Spell AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE GRAVITY?

Pronunciation: [ɐmˈɛɹɪkən pətɹˈə͡ʊliːəm ˈɪnstɪtjˌuːt ɡɹˈavɪti] (IPA)

The American Petroleum Institute gravity, commonly known as API gravity, is a measure of the density of petroleum liquids. The spelling of API is [eɪ pi aɪ], with the initial A pronounced as /eɪ/ like the letter "A" in "say". The P and I are pronounced as the letters themselves, while the final syllable is pronounced as /aɪ/ like the word "eye". The API gravity scale was developed by the American Petroleum Institute and is used to classify crude oils based on their density and viscosity.

Meaning and Definition
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AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE GRAVITY Meaning and Definition

  1. American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity is a measure of the density or weight of crude oil in comparison to the density of water. It is widely used in the oil and gas industry as a means of categorizing different types of crude oil based on their characteristics. API gravity is expressed in degrees on the API scale, with higher numbers indicating lighter and less dense crude oil.

    The API gravity scale is based on a formula that relates the specific gravity of crude oil to its density. The scale was developed by the American Petroleum Institute as a way to standardize the classification and marketing of crude oils.

    API gravity is determined by measuring the weight of a crude oil sample at a specific temperature and comparing it to an equal volume of water. If the oil sample is lighter than water, its API gravity will be greater than 10; if it is heavier, its API gravity will be less than 10.

    The significance of API gravity lies in its correlation with the quality and economic value of crude oil. Light and high API gravity crudes are generally considered more valuable due to their higher energy content and ease of refining into desirable petroleum products like gasoline and diesel fuel. Conversely, heavy crudes with low API gravity often require more complex and expensive refining processes to separate usable products from impurities.

    In summary, API gravity is a measurement of crude oil's density compared to water, expressed in degrees on the API scale. It is an important parameter used to characterize and classify different types of crude oil based on their quality and marketability.