CARGO CALCULATIONS

48. ASTM Calculations.

(a) Density at t0 C

(b) The density of a product at t0 C = Mass of a given volume of that

product
Volume of that quantity at t0 C

(c) Mass is given in Kg, Volume in litres or m3. So the density is expressed
in Kg / lit or kg/m3, (I kg / lit = 1000 kg / m3)

(d) Density is also referred to as density at t 0C. ASTM Tables require a

density or equivalent (Relative Density or API) as argument to enter the
respective tables.

(e) In East European countries density at 200 C is used. In West European

countries density at 150 C is often used.

(f) In other countries an API or even a relative density at 60 / 60 0 F is

applied.

49. Relative Density

(a) Relative density is also known as specific gravity.

(b) The relative density t1 / t2 0C (or 0F) of a product is the ratio of the
density of that product at t10, divided by the density of water at t20.

(c) Formula Relative Density t1 / t20 C = Density of product at t10C

Density of water at t20 0C

Note.

(i) As units of both numerator and denominator are same, they

will cancel out in this formula. Thus Relative Density is a numeral
without units.
(ii) Specific Gravity 60 / 600 F. This is the oil name for the relative
density 60 / 600 F meaning:-

(iii) Relative density 60 / 600 = Density of product at 600F

Density of water at 600F

(iv) Relative density 15 / 4 0C = Density of product at 150 C

Density of water at 40C
(v) Since the density of water at 40 C is 1 as per definition, the value
of the relative density 15/40 C is numerically equal to the density at 150
C.

50. Apparent Density. The name apparent density is used for the density at
0
t C, corrected for the buoyancy of the displaced air (density in air).This apparent
density can be found out by means of Weight Correction Factor (W.C.F) Table 56.
This table is to be entered with the density at t0C. The result is the Weight Correction
Factor Table 56 or apparent density. Note that for mineral products the difference is
0.0011 kg/1. For chemical products with a density higher than 1.13, the difference
gets less.

51. API Gravity.

(a) API gravity is a unit, which is used among other for calculations of
Metric or long tons from US Barrels 600F. API can be calculated from Relative
Density 60/600F by the following formula:-

Relative Density 60/ 600F

(b) Of the above mentioned units ONLY the density at t0 C can be used for
calculating mass “weight-in-vacuo” out of volume.

52. Weight Correction Factors. It is important to note that relative density

or API cannot be used for direct weight calculation. Calculations should be
done using a weight correction factor (W.C.F) These W.C.F.’s can be found in:-

(a) ASTM Table 11 (long tons per barrel 600 F)

(b) ASTM Table 13 (metric tons per barrel 600 F)

(c) ASTM Table 29 (long tons per barrel 600 F)

(d) ASTM Table 56 (kg/m3) (main table of 56)

53. Mass and Weight

ISO Name Industry Term

Quantity in Kg Mass Weight-in-vacuo

Quantity in Kg Weight Weight-in-air

Mass / Volume Density at t0C Spec. Gravity /40 C

in vacuo

Weight / Volume W.C.F Spec. Gravity/400 C

in air
54. Mass. The mass of matter is the quantity of material that the matter
exists of. This matter is independent from external conditions like attractive power of
the earth (place on earth). In the oil business this is often mentioned as “VAC”, or
“Weight-in-vacuo”. Mass is calculated as follows:-

Mass = Volume at t0 C x density at t0 C (in kg or metric tonnes vac)

55. Weight. The weight of a product is the weight of that matter weighed in
air, taking in account the buoyancy if the displaced air often related to as “Weight in
Air”.

The Weight is calculated as follows in various weight systems:-

(a) Metric System. Weight = volume in m3 150 C x w.e.f. (table 56) (kg or
metric tonnes in AIR)

(b) Barrel System.

(i) Weight = volume in US Bbls 600 F x w.e.f. (table 11) (long tons
in air)

(ii) Weight = volume in US Bbls 600 F x w.e.f. (table 13) in or metric

tons air)

56. ASTM.

(a) Tables 54, 54a & 54b are for volume correction factor when using
density @ 150C and volumes in kiloliters or cubic meters.

(b) Tables 6, 6A & 6B are for volume correction factor when using API
gravity and volume in barrels.

(c) Tables 24, 24A & 24B are for volume correction factor when using
specific gravity @ 600 F.

(d) Table 52 is for conversion of kiloliters @ 150C to US gals @ 600 F

and barrels @ 600 F.

(e) Table 58 is for conversion from metric tonnes to US gals @ 60 0 F

and US barrels @ 600 F.

57. Cargo Calculations.

(a) With actual density (observed) and temperature (observed) find

the density from ASTM tables [No.53 in India]
(b) With observed temperature and density at 15 0C find VRF from
ASTM tables. [No. 54 in India]

(c) From density at 15 0C subtract 0.0011 to get WRF.

(d) Obtain the observed volume from ship’s ullage tables and
multiply by VRF to obtain volume at 15 0C.

(e) Volume @ 150 C x WRF = Quantity in metric tons.

Observed Volume x VRF = Volume @ 15 0C

x WRF = Qty. in Mts.

x 1.0161 = Qty. in long tons.

58. The basis of all these calculations is that a volume measured at a certain
temperature is corrected to a standard temperature by means of a volume correction
factor. This corrected volume is called Standard Volume. From this standard volume
Mass or Weight is calculated by means of a Weight Correction Factor of a Density at
this standard temperature.

59. In the commonly used oil calculation, two systems are used:-

ACTUAL VOLUME STANDARD WCF WEIGHT

CORRECTION VOLUME
VOLUME
API

BARRELS TABLE 6A/B/D BARRELS 60 0F TABLE 11 LONG TONS

TABLE 13 METRIC TONS

RELATIVE BARRELS
TABLE 24A/B/D TABLE 29 LONG TONS
DENSITY 60 0F
DENSITY

METRIC TABLES54A/B/D M3 150C TABLE 56 METRIC TONS

DENSITY MASS MET. TONS

60. In general calculate mass/weight from volume as follows:-

(a) Volume and temperature of the product in a vessel or shore tank are
measured.
This measured volume (Total Observed Volume) has to be corrected for trim,
list, free water, floating roof, etc.
(b) This corrected volume is called the Gross Observed Volume. This is
the volume that will be corrected to a volume at a standard temperature, i.e.
the Gross Standard Volume.

(c) This standard volume can be expressed in:-

(i) Barrels at 600 F

(ii) Cubic meters at 150 C

(iii) (Cubic metres at 120 C)

(iv) (Cubic meters at 200C)

Note. Use the correct volume unit with corresponding calculating system. e.g.
barrels together with API or RD 60/60 OR litres with Density at 15 0C

(d) If calculations are to be performed metric in vacuo and the observed

volume is given in barrels, this should be converted to litres by use of ASTM
Table1. This calculation for Observed Volume to Standard Volume is done by
means of a Volume Correction Factor or V.C.F.
(e) Next the obtained standard volume is multiplied by the density,
resulting in mass, or multiplied by W.C.F., resulting in weight.

61. Volume Correction Factors. Volume correction factors are divided into
three groups, depending on the kind of product:-

(a) Tables 6-24-54 A for crude oils

(b) Tables 6-24-54 B for generalized products, fuel oil, gas oil, kerosene,
gasoline, naphta

(c) Tables 6-24-54 D for lubricating Oils

(d) Tables 6 A-B-D give Volume Correction Factors for correcting Barrels
at actual temperature to Barrels at 600 f depending on API at 60 0F and
temperature in 0F.

(e) Tables 24 A-B-D give Volume Correction Factors for correcting Barrels
at actual temperature to Barrels at 600F,depending on relative Density
60/600F and temperature in 0F.

(f) Tables 54 A-B-D give Volume Correction Factors for correcting Litres
at actual temperature to Litres at 150C, depending on Density at 150C and
temperature in 0C.

(g) Examples.

Gas oil (metric – vacuo calculation)

Density at 150 C (vacuo) : 0.8421 kg/1

Gross Observed Volume : 5,321,980 litre

Temperature : 16.300 C

V.C.F. to 150 C (54B) : 0.9989

Gross Standard Volume : 5,316,126 litre @150C

(5,321,980 x 0.9989)

Mass (Weight-in-Vacuo) : 4,476,710 kg (5,316,126 x

0.8421)

Crude Oil (barrel – calculation)

API at 60 0F : 32.0

Gross Observed Volume : 648,234 Barrels

Temperatures : 68.4 0F

V.C.F. to 600F : 9961 (Table 6 A)

Gross Standard Volume : 645,706 Bbls 600F (648,234 x

.9961)

Table 11 : 0.13512 tons/bb 1600F

Weight (in AIR) : 87.247.79 Long tons (645.706
x 0.13512)

62. Conversions. Let us make a difference between conversions and

calculations. A Calculation is the basic calculation from Observed Volume
(eventually via Standard Volume) to Mass or Weight, depending on local regulations.
These basic calculations can be followed by conversions, if necessary. Conversions
must be regarded as translations from figures to their systems, necessary for
comparison to other figures. Conversion factors can be found in ASTM Tables,
based on density, API or relative density, or fixed factors (ASTM Table 1.) Volume
conversions must be based on volume. Mass or weight conversions must be based
on mass or weight.

63. Air Vacuo. Whenever comparisons are made between different

figures (air to vacuo or vice versa), these figures should both be converted to either
air or vacuo. When the Bill of Lading is one of the figures to be compared, the
conversions should be made towards the Bill of Lading figure which should never be
converted. These conversions should be done by means of the short tables of Table
56. Table 56 consists of a short table, to be used with conversions from vacuo to air
or vice versa, and a main table, giving the W.C.F. in kg / m3 used to calculate weight
in metric tons AIR out of volume (litres or m3).
Example. A vessel arrives with a parcel of 80,000.260 m.t. in VAC. Outturn
density 0.8430 at 150 C. The Outturn was 79,900.867 m.t. in AIR. Since the
outturn is established in AIR a conversion from air to vacuo is needed to make
a good comparison between outturn and Bill of Lading. In order to do so a
conversion factor is needed to convert the outturn from AIR to VAC. This
conversion factor can be found in the short table of table 56, using the density
at 150 C as entry. In the table a correction factor of 1.00125 is found. The
outturn in VAC can now be calculated by multiplying:

79,900.867 x 1.00125 = 80000.740 Mt. in VAC.

64. Long Tons – Metric Tons.

(a) These conversions are to be done by means of ASTM Table.

(b) A Bill of Lading that has been achieved in Barrels and Long tons points
to a Bill of Lading in AIR. When metric tons are converted out of the long tons
using ASTM Table 1 this will also be a figure in AIR.

(ASTM Table 1; Long tons x 1.01605 = Metric Tons AIR)

(c) Whenever figures are compared, it is necessary to make sure that the
figures have the same unit. (E.G.: M.T. VAC to M.T VAC, long tons to long
tons, etc.)

(d) Long tons can be calculated out of metric tons AIR, using the fixed
factor 0.984206 from ASTM Table 1. Conversion from metric tons in VAC to
long tons should be done as follows:-

(i) Convert the metric tons in VAC to metric tons in AIAR, using the
short table 56.

(ii) Now convert the metric tons in AIR to long tons using the factor
0.984206 from A table 1.
65. API-Relative density-Density.

(a) With a lot of crude parcels, API is used to calculate the Bill of Lading.
For calculations in India a density is often required. This conversion can be
done using ASTM Table 3. Enter this table with API at 600F, then read the
matching density at 150 C and if necessary the Relative density 60 / 600 F.

Example.

Bill of Lading - 2,058,484 U.S. Barrels / 600 F 275,425

long tons

Outturn - 279,250.300 M. tons (vac) API / 600

F: 33.60
(b) To make a comparison between Bill of Lading and the outturn the
following should be done:-

(i) Convert API 600 F to density at 150C

(ii) ASTM Table 3: API = 33.6 density = 0.8566

(iii) Use density at 150C to find conversion factor from Vac to air.

(iv) ASTM Table 56: Density = .8566 Conversion factor =

0.99875.

(v) Outturn in VAC to be multiplied by factor table 56:

279250.3 x 0.99875 = 278901.24 Metric tons AIR

(vi) Use ASTM Table 1 for conversion from M. tons to long tons :
0.984206

(vii) 278901.24 x 984206 = 274496.27 long tons

Note. Never compare air to vac or vice versa!

66. Volume Conversions. Conversions from one volume unit to another (e.g.
barrels 600 F to litres 150 C) should done on volume base,
Barrels 600 F x corr factor = litres 150 C.

67. Cubic metres 150 C Barrels 600 F. This conversion is done by

one of the ASTM Tables: Table 4, 21, 22 or 52. The table to be used is dependent
on whether calculations are based on density or AP.

68. Barrels 600 F to Gallons 600 F. When US Barrels are being converted to
US Gallons a fixed factor of 42 is used.

Table 1: 1 barrel = 42 gallons as per definition).

69. Cubic metres 150 C Gallons 600 F. When converting Cubic meters at
0 0 0
15 C into Barrels at 60 F and Gallons at 60 F this should be done as follows:-

(a) Multiply cubic meters at 150 C by the correction factor from table 52
(Barrels 60 per cubic meter 15.)
(b) Then before rounding the barrel figure, multiply this by 42 in order to
get the Gallons at 60.

(c) Now both the Gallon and the Barrel figure can be rounded.

Example. A vessel loaded the following Bill of Lading: 15,690,515 Litres at

150 C 13,798,239 Kg (Mass) density 0.8794. Following conversions are
required.
Litres at 150 C; US Barrels at 600 F; US Gallons to 600 F; Metric tons in VAC
and in AIR; long tons.

Calculations. US Barrels 600 F: factor table 52 = 6.293

(15,690,515: 1000) x 6.293 = 98,740.411

US Gallons 600 F: 42 x 105,714.314 = 4,147097.258

US Barrels 600 F (rounded): 98740

Metric Tons (AIR): Factor table 56 = 0.99875

(13,798,239 x 1000 x 0.99875 = 13,780.991)

Long tons: 13780.991 x 984206 = 13563.334

70. Factors and Tables.

From To ASTM
Entry
Table
Item

Barrels 600 F Gallons 600 F 1

(42)

Metric Tons Air Long tons 1

(.984206)

Long tons Air Metric Tons Air 1

(1.01605)

API R.D. 60 / 60 & Dens. 150 C 3

API

Barrels 600 F Litres 150 C 4

API

Rel. density 60 / 60 Density 150 C 21

R.D. 60 / 60

Barrels 600 F Litres 150 C 22

R.D. 60/60

Density 150 C API & R.D. 60 / 60 51

Density

Litres 150 C Barrels 600 F 52

Density
Metric Tons Vac Metric Tons Air 56
Density

Metric Tons Air Metric Tons Vac 56

Density