Petroleum Program
Wyoming Statutes require petroleum distillates (gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, etc.) meet ASTM standards. The Federal Trade Commission requires the octane number be posted on all gasoline dispensing devices. These same statutes require the State Chemist to register all automotive antifreeze materials offered for sale in Wyoming.
Automotive antifreeze is periodically checked for compliance with its registration by analyzing for pH, water, reserve alkalinity, and specific gravity. In this laboratory petroleum fuels can be tested for flash point, distillation range, water and sediment, lead content, sulfur content, and oxygenates (MtBE, ethanol, methanol, etc.). Tests for octane number and vapor pressure are sent to other laboratories for analysis.
The quality of natural gas sold in Wyoming is regulated by law. In conjunction with the Wyoming Public Service Commission, samples are taken and analyzed for their heating value (BTU content per cubic foot). Samples are analyzed for their nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane and hexane content by gas chromatography. From this analysis the composition in mole percentage and the heating value in BTU/cu. ft. are calculated.
