The use of the proper water detection paste is relevant in order to detect the presence of Free water in Oil Cargo Tanks (Ship & Shore)

1. WF25 Regular Water Finding Paste
Mustard yellow paste turns red upon contact with water. Effective with gasoline, diesel or other
hydrocarbon products, sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids, ammonia, soap solutions and other
chloride solutions
AP02 All Purpose Water Finding Paste
Ideal for E-10 Applications (Ethanol)Accurately detects phase separation in Ethanol blend
applications. For all petroleum fuels including ethanol and methanol blends, diesel, kerosene, #2 oil,
JP-4, JP-5 and more. Paste will turn yellow-green in the presence of water
Color Kut M-1 Water Finding Paste
The Kolor Kut Water Finding Paste is golden brown in color and turns brilliant red upon contact with
water. Successfully gauges water content in all petroleum and hydrocarbons
Kolor Kut M-1M Modified Water Finding Paste
Paste changes from dark brown to bright red on contact with water. Phase separated alcohol
solutions with as little as 6% water will turn the paste yellow. This product is designed for the use in
reformulated and oxygenated fuel systems.
Kolor Kut M-1G Gasoline Gauging Paste
Paste is light pink in color and turns red upon contact with gasoline, diesel, naphtha, kerosene, gas oil,
crude oil, jet fuels, and other hydrocarbons.
SAR-GEL ® water indicating paste provides a fast, reliable way to detect water bottoms in storage
tanks containing gasoline and gasoline / alcohol blends, diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, solvents and other
materials.
Water Detection Paste

2. Water Detection Paste

3. Water Detection:
• Water-Cuts are to be taken on all products (Crude Oil,
Distillates, Gasoline/Naphtha, Residual Fuels) at the time of
gauging.
• Two (2) different brands of Water Finding Paste should be
used as some brands react differently based on the
viscosity of the products measured.
- The greater of the two (2) findings should be used as the
official water level in the tank.
- The bob should be submersed for a sufficient amount of
time to obtain accurate readings.
- The same submersion time should be used on both the
opening and closing gauges for the tank.
Independent Inspection Requirements
On crude oils a combination of water pastes is permitted to determine
accurate water cuts.
It has been noted by CITGO that a 50/50 blend of “Water Line Finder”
(Master) and McCabe water finding paste applied to half of the bob and
Kolor Kut water fining paste applied to the other half works well to
determine accurate water levels. At some CITGO locations this
procedure is required
Guidelines for Marine / Pipeline / Rail Cargo Inspections
BP has conducted certain laboratory and field tests on a variety of
water finding pastes. BP found that when conducting its testing, Gasoila
All purpose (AP) Water Finding Paste provided the best overall test
results. (In BP's testing, other pastes appeared to be less responsive in
high humidity and temperature applications at times requiring 15
minutes submersion in the underground storage tank (UST) in order to
react and change colors.
Using Gasoila AP Paste
Water Detection Paste