Multicomponent composition and corresponding physical properties data of crude oils and petroleum products are needed as input to environmental fate simulations. Complete sets of such data, however, are not available in the literature due to the complexity and expense of making the measurements. Environment Canada has previously developed a database of various physical and chemical properties of crude oils and petroleum products. In this cooperative project, ten 'typical' crude oils and refined products in common use or transport were identified for subsequent characterization. Measured oil physical properties include API gravity, density, sulphur content, water content, flash point, pour point, viscosity, surface and interfacial tension, adhesion, the equation for predicting evaporation, emulsion formation, and simulated boiling point distribution. The chemical composition of the oils are quantified for hydrocarbon groups, volatile organic compounds, n-alkane distribution, distribution of alkylated polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) homologues and other EPA priority PAHs, and biomarker concentrations. This project will provide the most complete and comprehensive database for the selected oils to date. The new composition data will be integrated into the existing Environment Canada oil properties database. The results will be made available to the public both on the world wide web and as a database on disc.

"EPA/600-R/03/072." James W. Weaver, Project Officer, Ecosystems Research Division, Athens, Georgia. Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-152).

"At the request of the US EPA Oil Program Center, ERD is developing an oil spill model that focuses on fate and transport of oil components under various response scenarios. Since crude oils and petroleum products are composed of many chemicals that have varying physical properties, data are required to characterize these fluids for use in models. The data presented in this report provide input to compositional models by characterizing oil composition by several approaches, but also by providing physical transport properties at corresponding levels of weathering and temperature. EPA expects these data to be useful both for modeling and to provide a resource for the oil spill response community." -- p. iii - Foreward.