Energy and Utilities Oil and Petroleum Systems 3

Question 1

What does the term 'sour crude' indicate about a crude oil's composition?

Accepted Answer

The crude oil has a high sulfur content, generally above 0.5% by weight

Answer

Sour crude contains high levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur compounds, requiring additional refinery processing to remove sulfur before producing clean fuels.

Question 2

What is the function of a three-phase separator in oil production facilities?

Accepted Answer

To simultaneously separate crude oil, natural gas, and produced water that come up from a well together

Answer

A three-phase separator uses gravity and retention time to divide the wellstream into its three phases: crude oil, natural gas, and produced water, which are each handled separately.

Question 3

Which federal agency leads the response to major oil spills under the National Contingency Plan?

Accepted Answer

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Coast Guard

Answer

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the National Contingency Plan, the EPA leads inland spill response and the U.S. Coast Guard leads coastal and marine spill response.

Question 4

What is 'fluid catalytic cracking' (FCC) used for in petroleum refining?

Accepted Answer

To break down large, heavy hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable products like gasoline

Answer

FCC uses a catalyst and heat to break (crack) heavy oil fractions into lighter, higher-value products such as gasoline, diesel, and petrochemical feedstocks.

Question 5

What does the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of a petroleum product indicate?

Accepted Answer

The tendency of a petroleum liquid to evaporate at 100°F, used to assess volatility and safety

Answer

RVP measures how easily a petroleum liquid evaporates; it is used to regulate gasoline formulations for air quality and to assess fire and explosion hazards during storage.

Energy and Utilities Practice Test

Energy and Utilities Practice Test

Energy and Utilities Oil and Petroleum Systems 3