1. What is Specific Gravity of Oil in lb/ft³?

Definition: This calculator converts the specific gravity of oil to density in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³).

Purpose: It helps engineers and technicians quickly determine oil density for various applications in petroleum, mechanical, and chemical engineering.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \rho \) — Density of oil (lb/ft³)
• \( SG \) — Specific gravity of oil (unitless)
• 62.4 — Density of water (lb/ft³ at standard conditions)

Explanation: Specific gravity is multiplied by the density of water to obtain the density of oil in lb/ft³.

3. Importance of Oil Density Calculation

Details: Knowing oil density is crucial for equipment sizing, pipeline design, storage tank calculations, and process engineering in the petroleum industry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the specific gravity of oil (typically 0.8-0.9 for most crude oils). The value must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is specific gravity of oil?
A: Specific gravity is the ratio of oil density to water density at standard conditions (typically 60°F).

Q2: What's a typical specific gravity for crude oil?
A: Most crude oils have SG between 0.8-0.9, meaning they're 80-90% as dense as water.

Q3: Why 62.4 lb/ft³ for water?
A: This is the density of water at standard conditions (60°F, 1 atm pressure).

Q4: How does temperature affect oil density?
A: Density decreases with increasing temperature. For precise calculations, use temperature-corrected values.

Q5: What's the API gravity equivalent?
A: API gravity = (141.5/SG) - 131.5. Light oils (>31.1°API) have SG < 0.87.