Shale API has approximately which value?

Shale API has approximately which value?

• A. 80
• B. 100
• C. 60
• D. 120

Answer: (B)

API gravity shows how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared with water: the higher the API, the lighter the liquid. Shale liquids, especially tight oils from shale plays, are often described as relatively light, so in many study contexts they’re treated as having a high API value. A value around 100 API gravity indicates a very light hydrocarbon (density about 0.61 g/mL), which is why it’s presented as the approximate shale number here. The other numbers would imply progressively heavier liquids, so they don’t align as well with the common characterization of shale oils as light liquids. Keep in mind actual API values vary by formation, but the idea is that shale liquids are toward the lighter end of the spectrum, and 100 captures that concept in this context.

API gravity shows how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared with water: the higher the API, the lighter the liquid. Shale liquids, especially tight oils from shale plays, are often described as relatively light, so in many study contexts they’re treated as having a high API value. A value around 100 API gravity indicates a very light hydrocarbon (density about 0.61 g/mL), which is why it’s presented as the approximate shale number here. The other numbers would imply progressively heavier liquids, so they don’t align as well with the common characterization of shale oils as light liquids. Keep in mind actual API values vary by formation, but the idea is that shale liquids are toward the lighter end of the spectrum, and 100 captures that concept in this context.