Energy Statistics

Working Group Meeting

IEA, Paris, France
16-17 November 2004

Special Issue Paper 9

Densities of
Oil Products
Mieke Reece
Issue:
There is a need for a review of the average densities of oil products in the OECD countries.

Background:
Why do we need the information on the average densities of oil products?
Density is defined as mass per unit volume i.e. metric ton per barrel. The oil industry in different parts
of the world uses different units of measurements. For example, in Europe, the metric ton (a mass
unit) is generally accepted as the unit of measurement, while in North America, volume units are
used, e.g. barrels in the United States and cubic metres in Canada.
When compiling a world oil balance, it is necessary to use a common unit, either a volume unit or a
unit of mass. Depending on the choice of the unit, this means that data originally reported in one type
of unit need to be converted into the common standard.
The international oil industry is generally using “barrels” as their accepted standard. Barrels are a
measurement of volume, and therefore any data for countries which is in mass unit will need to be
converted to volume. Moreover the mass to volume conversion differs from product to product and
may be differing from country to country. As an example, the density of crude oil can easily vary
from 0.125 (8 barrel per ton) to 0.152 (6.6 barrel per ton), whereas oil products can vary between
0.086 (LPG) to 0.150 (fuel oil).
The joint Eurostat, IEA/OECD, UNECE questionnaires collect data in metric tons or mass, while the
IEA’s Oil Market Report is presenting data in barrels. We therefore need to convert all the oil
information from metric tons to barrels.
In order to obtain an accurate world oil balance in volume and to limit the statistical error, it is
essential that each product in each country is converted at the appropriate factor.

Why do we need to review this periodically?

Densities do not remain constant over time. Little by little they change, as on the one hand, in the
supply of crude oil, the density becomes higher, on the other hand, in the consuming sectors new and
improved technologies, as well as the increasing complexity of the oil products result in the use of
higher density oil products.
As a consequence, it is necessary to carry out a survey to evaluate the situation, the last survey was
carried out in 1993, or some 10 year ago. It therefore seemed timely to conduct an update of this
survey at the occasion of the 2004 ESWG. This survey was not intended to be carried out on a yearly
basis, and will be renewed on an ad-hoc basis when necessary. Only results from OECD and EU
countries were received.
The results of the survey have been attached in Annex I.
Many countries sent incomplete data, and eight countries (of which some important consumers and
producers) did not report any densities at all. Unfortunately, therefore, the results of the survey so far
cannot be completely conclusive, particularly as some values look inconsistent with the past values.
However, we have still prepared the preliminary results for your review.
We will continue to calculate weighted average densities for the three main regions: OECD North
America, OECD Pacific, and Europe (including EU members which are not currently members of the

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OECD). These regional averages will then be used to convert the Eurostat, OECD/IEA, UNECE oil
data from metric tons to barrels, for example as shown in the IEA’s monthly Oil Market Report.

Proposal:
We will continue to pursue the data from the countries which have not responded yet, and to extend
the survey to UNECE Member countries which are not members of OECD and EU. Depending on the
results from the UNECE countries, we will see if there is a need to add a fourth region.

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 Annex 1: Survey on Average Densities of Oil Products

Summary Findings of Density Survey Current Factors

OECD OECD OECD
OECD OECD OECD
North Europe Wtd North Europe North Europe OECD North OECD OECD
Average Pacific Pacific Average Pacific
America Average Average America Average America Average America Pacific Europe
Average Average Average
Average Average Average

Average Density or Specific Gravity (g/cm3) Weighted Average Density (g/cm3) Derived Regional Conversion (bbl/ton)

Crude Oil Refinery Intake 0.8505 0.8365 0.8447 0.8525 0.8484 0.8365 0.8504 0.8493 7.41 7.52 7.40 7.41 7.37 7.37 7.37
NGL Refinery Intake 0.6502 0.7246 0.6343 0.6736 0.5882 0.5736 0.7145 0.5163 10.69 10.97 8.80 12.18 10.3 8.85 10.3
Refinery Feedstocks Refinery Intake 0.8115 0.8431 0.8235 0.7886 0.8415 0.8431 0.8680 0.8265 7.47 7.46 7.25 7.61 7.46 7.4 7.4
Additives Refinery Intake 0.7893 n.a n.a. 0.7893 0.7887 n.a n.a. 0.7887 7.98 n.a. n.a. 7.98 14.8 7.5 7.5
Other Hydrocarbons Refinery Intake n.a. n.a n.a. n.a n.a. n.a n.a. n.a n.a. n.a n.a. n.a 8.3 7.4 7.4
Refinery Gas Consumption 0.6975 0.8986 0.8450 0.7687 0.7935 0.8443 0.9534 0.2046 7.93 7.45 6.60 30.74 7.45 6.99 8
Ethane Consumption 0.3113 0.3656 #DIV/0! 0.3113 0.3692 0.3698 n.a. 0.3628 17.04 17.01 n.a. 17.34 16.85 16.85 16.85
LPG Consumption 0.5625 0.5395 0.6913 0.5644 0.7741 0.5395 0.9521 0.5351 8.13 11.66 6.61 11.76 11.6 11.6 11.6
Naphtha Consumption 0.7180 0.7498 0.7470 0.7150 0.7317 0.7561 0.7370 0.7058 8.60 8.32 8.53 8.91 8.5 8.5 8.9
4

Motor Gasoline Consumption 0.7449 0.7362 0.7403 0.7454 0.7380 0.7372 0.7370 0.7428 8.52 8.53 8.53 8.47 8.53 8.53 8.45
Aviation Gasoline Consumption 0.7172 0.7079 0.7215 0.7211 0.7074 0.7069 0.6988 0.7169 8.89 8.90 9.00 8.77 8.9 8.9 8.9
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.7699 0.7758 n.a. 0.7732 0.7906 0.7910 n.a. 0.7500 7.96 7.95 n.a. 8.39 8.25 8.25 8.25
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.7970 0.7976 0.7898 0.7971 0.7951 0.7937 0.7862 0.8017 7.91 7.92 8.00 7.85 7.93 7.93 7.88
Other Kerosene Consumption 0.8036 0.8168 0.8007 0.8043 0.8118 0.8145 0.8139 0.8004 7.75 7.72 7.73 7.86 7.74 7.74 7.88
Gas/diesel Oil Consumption 0.8397 0.8516 0.8347 0.8389 0.8410 0.8450 0.8417 0.8372 7.48 7.44 7.47 7.51 7.46 7.46 7.46
Fuel Oil (including Bunker fuel) Consumption 0.9471 0.9487 0.9308 0.9471 0.9332 0.9457 0.9035 0.9408 6.74 6.65 6.96 6.69 6.66 6.66 6.45
White Spirit Consumption 0.7699 0.7374 0.7990 0.7733 0.7444 0.7374 0.7569 0.7707 8.45 8.53 8.31 8.16 8.46 8.46 8.46
Lubricants Consumption 0.8910 0.8835 0.8920 0.8886 0.8899 0.8891 0.8928 0.8899 7.07 7.07 7.04 7.07 7.09 7.09 7.09
Bitumen Consumption 1.0132 1.0375 1.0097 1.0156 1.0260 1.0378 1.0004 0.9993 6.13 6.06 6.29 6.29 6.08 6.08 6.08
Paraffin Waxes Consumption 0.8654 0.7992 0.9137 0.8669 0.8170 0.7992 0.9805 0.8325 7.70 7.87 6.41 7.55 7.85 7.85 7.85
Petroleum Coke Consumption 0.9654 0.6383 0.9425 0.9596 0.9830 0.9668 0.9972 1.1891 6.40 6.51 6.31 5.29 5.5 5.5 5.5
Other Products Consumption 0.8300 0.8366 0.8950 0.8315 0.8140 0.7914 0.9681 0.8151 7.73 7.95 6.50 7.72 8 8 8
Bioethanol Production 0.7935 0.7922 0.7900 0.7947 7.93 7.94 7.96 7.91
Biodiesel Production 0.8428 n.a. 0.8770 0.8820 7.46 n.a. 7.17 7.13
Biomethanol Production 0.7912 0.7912 n.a. 0.7912 7.95 7.95 n.a. 7.95
Biodimethylether Production
Biooil Production
 Country-Specific Information

country AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM CANADA CZECH DENMARK FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY

Average Density or Specific Gravity (g/cm3)

Crude Oil Indigenous Production 0.784 0.85 0.888 0.86
Crude Oil Imports 0.87 0.85 0.8576 0.86 0.842 0.85
Crude Oil Exports 0.788 0.85 0.86
Crude Oil Refinery Intake 0.82 0.85 0.83645 0.8576 0.86 0.855 0.842 0.85
NGL Indigenous Production 0.523 0.7 0.54
NGL Imports 0.7 0.54 0.738
NGL Exports 0.523 0.7 0.54
NGL Refinery Intake 0.523 0.7 0.54 0.934 0.738
Refinery Feedstocks Indigenous Production
Refinery Feedstocks Imports 0.935 0.867 0.86
Refinery Feedstocks Exports 0.794 0.889 0.86
Refinery Feedstocks Refinery Intake 0.916 0.89 0.86
Additives Indigenous Production
Additives Imports
Additives Exports
Additives Refinery Intake
Other Hydrocarbons Indigenous Production
Other Hydrocarbons Imports
Other Hydrocarbons Exports
Other Hydrocarbons Refinery Intake
Refinery Gas Refinery Output 0.725 0.6 0.34 0.18
Refinery Gas Imports 0.34
Refinery Gas Exports 0.34
Refinery Gas Consumption 0.725 0.6 0.34 0.953 0.18
Ethane Refinery Output
Ethane Imports
Ethane Exports
Ethane Consumption 0.358
LPG Refinery Output 0.53 0.58 0.54 0.53 0.54 0.545
LPG Imports 0.51 0.58 0.54 0.53 0.54
LPG Exports 0.556 0.58 0.54 0.53 0.54
LPG Consumption 0.54 0.58 0.54 0.5395 0.53 0.54 0.507
Naphtha Refinery Output 0.724 0.66 0.7
Naphtha Imports 0.66 0.66
Naphtha Exports 0.724 0.66
Naphtha Consumption 0.757 0.739 0.66 0.7 0.7
Motor Gasoline Refinery Output 0.74 0.749 0.74 0.748 0.75
Motor Gasoline Imports 0.731 0.749 0.74 0.749 0.75
Motor Gasoline Exports 0.74 0.751 0.74 0.748 0.75
Motor Gasoline Consumption 0.735 0.749 0.74 0.735 0.748 0.75 0.75 0.745
Aviation Gasoline Refinery Output 0.648 0.7 0.741 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Imports 0.708 0.7 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Exports 0.648 0.7 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Consumption 0.672 0.7 0.709 0.741 0.71 0.71 0.72
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output 0.75 0.76
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Imports 0.75 0.76
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Exports 0.75 0.76
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.75 0.791 0.76
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output 0.792 0.798 0.8 0.793 0.8 0.8
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Imports 0.792 0.798 0.8 0.8
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Exports 0.792 0.798 0.8 0.8
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.792 0.798 0.8 0.802 0.793 0.8 0.795 0.8 0.8
Other Kerosene Refinery Output 0.804 0.798 0.8 0.8 0.8
Other Kerosene Imports 0.795 0.798 0.8 0.8
Other Kerosene Exports 0.804 0.798 0.8 0.8
Other Kerosene Consumption 0.8 0.798 0.8 0.82 0.8 0.8 0.81 0.8
Gas/diesel Oil Refinery Output 0.838 0.848 0.85 0.84 0.84 0.83
Gas/diesel Oil Imports 0.85 0.849 0.85 0.84 0.84
Gas/diesel Oil Exports 0.838 0.85 0.85 0.84 0.84
Gas/diesel Oil Consumption 0.839 0.848 0.85 0.86 0.84 0.84 0.845 0.835 0.83
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Refinery Output 0.972 0.955 0.925 0.99 0.98 0.855
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Imports 0.95 1.008 0.925 0.98
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Exports 0.972 1.006 0.925 0.98
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Consumption 0.96 0.956 0.925 0.953 0.99 0.98 0.975 1 0.855
White Spirit Refinery Output 0.775 0.7 0.8 0.727
White Spirit Imports 0.775 0.7 0.8
White Spirit Exports 0.775 0.7 0.8
White Spirit Consumption 0.775 0.7 0.8 0.777
Lubricants Refinery Output 0.911 0.9 0.9 0.9
Lubricants Imports 0.887 0.9 0.9 0.9
Lubricants Exports 0.911 0.9 0.9 0.9
Lubricants Consumption 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.876 0.9 0.9

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country GREECE HUNGARY ICELAND IRELAND ITALY JAPAN NETHLAND NZ NORWAY

Average Density or Specific Gravity (g/cm3)

Crude Oil Indigenous Production 0.867 0.806 0.855 0.859 0.836
Crude Oil Imports 0.862 0.863 0.853 0.855 0.859
Crude Oil Exports 0.862 0.859 0.836
Crude Oil Refinery Intake 0.86 0.863 0.853 0.855 0.859 0.836
NGL Indigenous Production 0.715 0.665 0.541
NGL Imports 0.715 0.665
NGL Exports 0.665 0.541
NGL Refinery Intake 0.715 0.665 0.541
Refinery Feedstocks Indigenous Production 0.745
Refinery Feedstocks Imports 0.902 0.78 0.731
Refinery Feedstocks Exports
Refinery Feedstocks Refinery Intake 0.901 0.745 0.731
Additives Indigenous Production 0.796
Additives Imports 0.79
Additives Exports
Additives Refinery Intake 0.792 0.84
Other Hydrocarbons Indigenous Production
Other Hydrocarbons Imports
Other Hydrocarbons Exports
Other Hydrocarbons Refinery Intake
Refinery Gas Refinery Output 0.965
Refinery Gas Imports
Refinery Gas Exports
Refinery Gas Consumption 0.75 0.965
Ethane Refinery Output
Ethane Imports
Ethane Exports 0.359
Ethane Consumption 0.359
LPG Refinery Output 0.579 1 0.534
LPG Imports 1 0.534
LPG Exports 1 0.534 0.556
LPG Consumption 0.576 0.552 1 0.53 0.534 0.53
Naphtha Refinery Output 0.732 0.737
Naphtha Imports 0.737
Naphtha Exports 0.737 0.872
Naphtha Consumption 0.728 0.711 0.737
Motor Gasoline Refinery Output 0.745 0.737 0.749
Motor Gasoline Imports 0.755 0.737 0.749
Motor Gasoline Exports 0.737 0.749 0.74
Motor Gasoline Consumption 0.738 0.748 0.755 0.7477 0.737 0.75 0.749 0.74
Aviation Gasoline Refinery Output 0.737 0.7555
Aviation Gasoline Imports 0.755 0.7555
Aviation Gasoline Exports 0.7555 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Consumption 0.755 0.71736 0.737 0.71 0.7555 0.71
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Imports
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Exports
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.77
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output 0.797 0.7834 0.794
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Imports 0.81 0.7834 0.794
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Exports 0.7834 0.794 0.76
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.799 0.79 0.81 0.8 0.7834 0.79 0.794 0.76
Other Kerosene Refinery Output 0.814 0.788
Other Kerosene Imports 0.81 0.814 0.788
Other Kerosene Exports 0.814 0.788 0.79
Other Kerosene Consumption 0.81 0.8 0.814 0.78 0.788 0.79
Gas/diesel Oil Refinery Output 0.827 0.843 0.822
Gas/diesel Oil Imports 0.848 0.843 0.822
Gas/diesel Oil Exports 0.843 0.822 0.83
Gas/diesel Oil Consumption 0.833 0.842 0.848 0.846 0.843 0.84 0.822 0.83
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Refinery Output 0.986 0.9 0.9325
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Imports 0.925 0.9 0.9325
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Exports 0.9 0.9325 0.95
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Consumption 0.994 0.955 0.925 0.9605 0.9 0.9325 0.95
White Spirit Refinery Output 0.737 0.885
White Spirit Imports 0.885
White Spirit Exports 0.885
White Spirit Consumption 0.798 0.737 0.73 0.885
Lubricants Refinery Output 0.891 0.885
Lubricants Imports 0.891 0.885
Lubricants Exports 0.891 0.885 0.9
Lubricants Consumption 0.88 0.891 0.885 0.9

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country POLAND PORTUGAL SLOVAKIA SWEDEN SWITLAND TURKEY UK USA

Average Density or Specific Gravity (g/cm3)

Crude Oil Indigenous Production 0.81 0.9328 0.834028
Crude Oil Imports 0.8627 0.822 0.8597 0.84674
Crude Oil Exports 0.834028
Crude Oil Refinery Intake 0.8627 0.87 0.86 0.822 0.86 0.838926
NGL Indigenous Production
NGL Imports
NGL Exports
NGL Refinery Intake 0.8 0.481 0.5152
Refinery Feedstocks Indigenous Production
Refinery Feedstocks Imports 0.848
Refinery Feedstocks Exports
Refinery Feedstocks Refinery Intake 0.7 0.66 0.869 0.8431
Additives Indigenous Production
Additives Imports 0.75
Additives Exports
Additives Refinery Intake 0.775 0.75
Other Hydrocarbons Indigenous Production
Other Hydrocarbons Imports
Other Hydrocarbons Exports
Other Hydrocarbons Refinery Intake
Refinery Gas Refinery Output 0.671
Refinery Gas Imports
Refinery Gas Exports
Refinery Gas Consumption 0.92 0.8443
Ethane Refinery Output
Ethane Imports
Ethane Exports
Ethane Consumption 0.1 0.3663 0.3732
LPG Refinery Output 0.531 0.562
LPG Imports 0.521 0.563
LPG Exports 0.564
LPG Consumption 0.53 0.508 0.521 0.562 0.506329
Naphtha Refinery Output
Naphtha Imports 0.675
Naphtha Exports 0.703 0.7477
Naphtha Consumption 0.715 0.695 0.678 0.7477 0.723589 0.7606
Motor Gasoline Refinery Output 0.75 0.749 0.741 0.7566
Motor Gasoline Imports 0.775 0.749 0.743
Motor Gasoline Exports 0.749 0.728 0.7488
Motor Gasoline Consumption 0.75 0.749 0.75 0.74 0.743 0.7566 0.734214 0.7374
Aviation Gasoline Refinery Output 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Imports 0.71 0.714
Aviation Gasoline Exports 0.71
Aviation Gasoline Consumption 0.71 0.71 0.72 0.71582 0.7067
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output 0.7977
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Imports
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Exports
Gasoline Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.76 0.7977 0.7606
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Refinery Output 0.8075 0.8 0.8
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Imports 0.8 0.799
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Exports 0.8
Kerosene Type Jet Fuel Consumption 0.8075 0.8 0.81 0.8 0.799 0.812348 0.7932
Other Kerosene Refinery Output 0.83 0.803 0.7965
Other Kerosene Imports 0.83 0.802
Other Kerosene Exports 0.83
Other Kerosene Consumption 0.83 0.81 0.81 0.804 0.7965 0.801282 0.8137
Gas/diesel Oil Refinery Output 0.835 0.835 0.833 0.8372
Gas/diesel Oil Imports 0.845 0.835 0.833 0.8499
Gas/diesel Oil Exports 0.835 0.833 0.8346
Gas/diesel Oil Consumption 0.835 0.835 0.835 0.84 0.833 0.8372 0.84246 0.8431
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Refinery Output 0.9225 0.957 0.9687
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Imports 0.9912
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Exports 0.9689
Fuel Oil (incl. Bunker fuel) Consumption 0.9225 0.92 0.9 0.9687 0.969932 0.9444
White Spirit Refinery Output
White Spirit Imports 0.774
White Spirit Exports 0.79
White Spirit Consumption 0.735 0.78 0.774 0.780031 0.7374
Lubricants Refinery Output 0.8883
Lubricants Imports 0.8837
Lubricants Exports
Lubricants Consumption 0.885 0.8883 0.877963 0.8909