INTRODUCTION
As a Petroleum Laboratory Supervisor, you must perform various tests on petroleum products to determine if
they can be utilized for their intended purposes. You must also be able to observe laboratory technicians in
order to determine if they are performing the laboratory tests in accordance with the current Annual Book of
ASTM Standards. Performing the laboratory tests allows you to handle and assemble the test apparatus,
report the results of the tests, and determine if the product can be used for its intended purpose.
PART A - SIGNIFICANCE AND USE OF EACH TEST PROCEDURE (D-95,
D-473, D-1319, D-1322, D-3338)
ASTM D-95 Standard Test Procedure for Water in Petroleum Products and
Bituminous Materials by Distillation. This test method covers the determination of water in
petroleum products, tars, and other bituminous materials by the distillation method.
Significance - A knowledge of the water content of petroleum products is important in the refining,
purchase, sale, and transfer of products.
Use - The amount of water determined by this method is used to correct the volume involved in the
custody transfer of oils.
ASTM D-473 Standard Test Method for Sediment in Crude Oils and Fuel Oils by the
Extraction Method. This test method covers the determination of sediment in crude oils and fuel oils by
extraction with toluene.
Significance - A knowledge of the sediment content of crude oil and fuel oils is important both to the
operation of refining and the buying or selling of the oil.
Use - The amount of sediment determined by this method is used in the operation of refining and
marketing fuel.
ASTM D-1319 Standard Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum
Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption. This test method is for determining hydrocarbon
types over the concentration ranges from 5 to 99 volume % aromatics, 0.3 to 55 volume % olefins, and 1 to
95 volume % saturates in petroleum fractions that distill below 315C.
Significance - A knowledge of the total volume percent of saturates, olefins, and aromatics in petroleum
fractions is important in describing the quality of petroleum fractions as gasoline blending components
and as feeds to catalytic reforming processes.
Use -This information is also important in describing petroleum fractions and products from catalytic
reforming and from thermal and catalytic cracking as blending components for motor and aviation fuels.
ASTM D-1322 Standard Test Method for Smoke Point of Kerosene and Aviation
Turbine Fuel. This test method covers a procedure for determination of the smoke point of kerosene and
aviation turbine fuel.
Significance - This test method provides an indication of the relative smoke producing properties of
kerosene and aviation turbine fuels in a diffusion flame.
Use - This information is quantitatively related to the potential radiant heat transfer from the combustion
products of the fuel.
ASTM D-3338 Standard Test Method for Estimation of Net Heat of Combustion of
Aviation Fuels. This test method covers the estimation of the net heat of combustion of aviation
gasolines and aircraft turbine and jet engine fuels.
Significance - A knowledge of this test method is a guide in cases where experimental determination of
heat of combustion is not available and cannot be made easily and where an estimate is more
satisfactory.
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QM 5181
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