This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D6822 − 12b (Reapproved 2017)´1

Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS), Chapter 9.3

Standard Test Method for

Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Crude
Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by
Thermohydrometer Method1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6822; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

ε1 NOTE—Editorially corrected adjunct information in March 2023.

1. Scope in Section 9 shall be applied to the initial thermohydrometer

1.1 This test method covers the determination, using a glass reading with observations and results reported as required by
thermohydrometer in conjunction with a series of calculations, Section 11 prior to use in a subsequent calculation procedure
of the density, relative density, or API gravity of crude (measurement ticket calculation, meter factor calculation, or
petroleum, petroleum products, or mixtures of petroleum and base prover volume determination).
nonpetroleum products normally handled as liquids and having 1.5 Annex A1 contains a procedure for verifying or certify-
a Reid vapor pressures of 101.325 kPa (14.696 psi) or less. ing the equipment of this test method.
Values are determined at existing temperatures and corrected to 1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
15 °C or 60 °F by means of a series of calculations and standard.
international standard tables. 1.6.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are for
1.2 The initial thermohydrometer readings obtained are information only.
uncorrected hydrometer readings and not density measure- 1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ments. Readings are measured on a thermohydrometer at either safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the reference temperature or at another convenient responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
temperature, and readings are corrected for the meniscus effect, priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the thermal glass expansion effect, alternate calibration tem- bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
perature effects and to the reference temperature by means of 1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
calculations and Adjunct to D1250 Guide for Use of the dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Petroleum Measurement Tables (API MPMS Chapter 11.1). ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.3 Readings determined as density, relative density, or API Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
gravity can be converted to equivalent values in the other units mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
or alternate reference temperatures by means of Interconver- Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
sion Procedures (API MPMS Chapter 11.5) or Adjunct to
D1250 Guide for Use of the Petroleum Measurement Tables 2. Referenced Documents
(API MPMS Chapter 11.1), or both, or tables as applicable. 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
1.4 The initial thermohydrometer reading shall be recorded D1250 Guide for the Use of the Joint API and ASTM
before performing any calculations. The calculations required Adjunct for Temperature and Pressure Volume Correction
Factors for Generalized Crude Oils, Refined Products, and
Lubricating Oils: API MPMS Chapter 11.1
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and the API Committee on
Petroleum Measurement, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.02
Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Prod-
/COMQ, the joint ASTM-API Committee on Hydrocarbon Measurement for ucts by Hydrometer Method
Custody Transfer (Joint ASTM-API). This test method has been approved by the
sponsoring committees and accepted by the Cooperating Societies in accordance
2
with established procedures. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 15, 2017. Published July 2012. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6822 – 12b. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6822-12BR17E01. the ASTM website.

© Jointly copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, USA and the American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005, USA
 D6822 − 12b (2017)´1
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and scale where these surface readings cut the scale (Hydrometer
Petroleum Products Reading – Observed). For nontransparent fluids the point at
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and which the liquid surface cuts the Hydrometer scale cannot be
Petroleum Products determined directly and requires a correction (Meniscus Cor-
D5854 Practice for Mixing and Handling of Liquid Samples rection). The value represented by the point (Meniscus Read-
of Petroleum and Petroleum Products ing) at which the liquid sample rises above the main surface of
D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias the liquid subtracted from the value represented by where the
Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products, main surface of the liquid cuts the Hydrometer scale is the
Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants amount of the correction or Meniscus correction. This menis-
E100 Specification for ASTM Hydrometers cus correction is documented and then subtracted from the
2.2 API Standards:3 value represented by the Meniscus Reading to yield the
MPMS Chapter 8.1 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petro- Hydrometer Reading corrected for the Meniscus (Hydrometer
leum and Petroleum Products (ASTM Practice D4057) Reading – Observed, Meniscus Corrected).
MPMS Chapter 8.2 Practice for Automatic Sampling of 3.1.4 observed values, n—hydrometer readings observed at
Petroleum and Petroleum Products (ASTM Practice a temperature other than the defined reference temperature.
D4177) 3.1.4.1 Discussion—These values are only hydrometer read-
MPMSChapter 8.3 Practice for Mixing and Handling of ings and not density, relative density, or API gravity at the
Liquid Samples of Petroleum and Petroleum Products temperature.
(ASTM Practice D5854)
3.1.5 relative density, n—the ratio of the mass of a given
MPMS Chapter 9.1 Hydrometer Test Method for Density,
volume of liquid at a specific temperature to the mass of an
Relative Density or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and
equal volume of pure water at the same or different tempera-
Liquid Petroleum Products (ASTM Test Method D1298)
ture. Both reference temperatures shall be explicitly stated.
MPMS Chapter 11.1 Temperature and Pressure Volume Cor-
3.1.5.1 Discussion—Common reference temperatures in-
rection Factors for Generalized Crude Oils, Refined
clude 15/15 °C, 60 ⁄60 °F, 20/20 °C, and 20/4 °C. The historic
Products, and Lubricating Oils (Adjunct to ASTM D1250)
term specific gravity may still be found.
MPMS Chapter 11.5 Density/Weight/Volume Intraconver-
sion 3.1.6 thermohydrometer, n—a glass hydrometer with a self-
2.3 ASTM Adjuncts: contained thermometer.
Adjunct to D1250 Standard Guide for the Use of the Joint
4. Summary of Test Method
API and ASTM Adjunct for Temperature and Pressure
Volume Correction Factors for Generalized Crude Oils, 4.1 The density or API gravity, after temperature equilib-
Refined Products, and Lubricant Oils: API MPMS Chapter rium has been reached, is read by observing the freely floating
11.1, Addenda 1 and 24 thermohydrometer and noting the graduation nearest to the
apparent intersection of the horizontal plane surface of the
3. Terminology liquid with the vertical scale of the hydrometer after tempera-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: ture equilibrium has been reached. The observed thermohy-
3.1.1 API gravity (°API), n—a special function of relative drometer reading is reduced to the reference temperature value
density 60/60 °F, represented by: by means of the Petroleum Measurement Tables (the appropri-
ate adjunct to Adjunct to D1250 Guide for Petroleum Mea-
°API 5 @ 141.5/ ~ relative density 60/60°F ! # 2 131.5 (1)
surement Tables (API MPMS Chapter 11.1) and observed
3.1.1.1 Discussion—No statement of reference temperature
temperature from the enclosed thermometer.
is required, as 60 °F is included in the definition.
3.1.2 density, n—the mass of liquid per unit volume at 15 °C 5. Significance and Use
and 101.325 kPa with the standard unit of measurement being 5.1 Density and API gravity are used in custody transfer
kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3). quantity calculations and to satisfy transportation, storage, and
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Other reference temperatures, such as regulatory requirements. Accurate determination of density or
20 °C, may be used for some products or in some locations. API gravity of crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products
Less preferred units of measurement, for example, kg/L or is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to
g/mL, are still in use. volumes at the standard temperatures of 15 °C or 60 °F.
3.1.3 hydrometer reading, n—the point on the hydrometer
5.2 Density and API gravity are also factors that indicate the
scale at which the surface of the liquid cuts the scale.
quality of crude petroleum. Crude petroleum prices are fre-
3.1.3.1 Discussion—In practice for transparent fluids this
quently posted against values in kg/m3 or in degrees API.
can be readily determined by aligning the surface of the liquid
However, this property of petroleum is an uncertain indication
on both sides of the hydrometer and reading the Hydrometer
of its quality unless correlated with other properties.

3
5.3 Field of Application—Because the thermohydrometer
Available from American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L. St., NW,
incorporates both the hydrometer and thermometer in one
Washington, DC 20005-4070, www.api.org.
4
Available from ASTM International Headquarters. Order Adjunct No. device, it is more applicable in field operations for determining
ADJD1250-A1A2-E-PDF. Original adjunct produced in 1983. density or API gravity of crude petroleum and other liquid

2
 D6822 − 12b (2017)´1
petroleum products. The procedure is convenient for gathering ings shall be corrected for the thermal glass expansion effect
main trunk pipelines and other field applications where limited and alternate calibration temperature effects before correcting
laboratory facilities are available. The thermohydrometer to the reference temperature. This procedure can also be used
method may have limitations in some petroleum density for viscous liquids by allowing sufficient time for the thermo-
determinations. When this is the case, other methods such as hydrometer to reach temperature equilibrium.
Test Method D1298 (API MPMS Chapter 9.1) may be used.
5.4 This procedure is suitable for determining the density, 6. Apparatus
relative density, or API gravity of low viscosity, transparent or 6.1 Glass Thermohydrometers, as specified in Specification
opaque liquids, or both. This procedure, when used for opaque E100 (shown in Fig. 1), and graduated in:
liquids, requires the use of a meniscus correction (see 9.2). 6.1.1 Kilograms/cubic metre (kg/m3) and degrees Celsius
Additionally for both transparent and opaque fluids the read- for density hydrometers, as shown in Table 1.

FIG. 1 Typical Thermohydrometer Designs