pour point — Oil & Gas Glossary
The temperature at which a fluid ceases to pour. The pour point for oil can be determined under protocols set forth in the ASTM D-97 pour point test, in which the pour point is established as that temperature at which oil ceases to flow when the sample is held at 90 degrees to the upright for five seconds. High pour
Detailed Explanation
points usually occur in crude oils that have significant paraffin content. Paraffins (or waxes) will start to precipitate as temperature decreases. At some point the precipitates accumulate to the point where the fluid can no longer flow. This phenomenon can occur with light oils as well as heavy oils.