Crude oil density and saturation of rock

[deleted-331732]

I have a student that has various crude oil samples. Each oil has a different API Gravity as well as density. We are going to drop an amount of crude on various types of rocks and record the rate and amount the rock will absorb. What could we use as a control and will the different oil density effect saturation levels? Our guess is the heavier crude will take longer but cannot really find anything to support what we are trying to do.

[donnahardy2]

HI,

Welcome to Science Buddies! This is a unique idea and should make a great project.

I'm having the same problem you did; there is lots of information about the oil storage properties off different types of rock, but nothing about what type of oil will be absorbed into a specific type of rock.

For a hypothesis, your student could use a general, all purpose hypothesis for this type of application. When a surface has a certain porosity, a sample with smaller molecules and lower viscosity should be able to adsorb into the pores of the rock more quickly. The total capacity of the rocks for oil would probably be the same and would depend on the total pore volume of the rock. Your student will have to make sure that time, temperature, and the rock samples are carefully controlled.

Does your student have a method for measuring the viscosity so that the viscosity vs quantity of oil absorbed can be graphed.

There is a project described on this website that your student might be able to adapt to the question. Maybe you have already found this, but it does contain useful information on the topic.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... #procedure

I hope this helps. Please lel us know if there are any other questions.


Donna Hardy