Types of crude oil
The United States mostly extracts light, sweet crude oil, called “the champagne of oils” because it’s easiest to refine and can create high-value petroleum products.
Light & sweet
Highest value, the champagne of oils
Light & sour
Heavy & sweet
Moderate value, easy to refine but needs sulfur removal
Lower value, harder to refine than light & sour
Heavy & sour
Lowest value, most difficult to refine and transport
Light
More fluid, often nearly transparent to light yellow or brown, flows easily
Butane
Kerosene
Gasoline
Diesel fuel
Jet fuel
Heavy
Paraffin
wax
Thick, tar-like, dark brown to black, can be almost solid at room temp.
Asphalt
and tar
Lubricating oil
Light & sweet
Highest value, the champagne of oils
Light & sour
Heavy & sweet
Moderate value, easy to refine but needs sulfur removal
Lower value, harder to refine than light & sour
Heavy & sour
Lowest value, most difficult to refine and transport
Light
More fluid, often nearly transparent to light yellow or brown, flows easily
Butane
Kerosene
Gasoline
Diesel fuel
Jet fuel
Paraffin
wax
Heavy
Thick, tar-like, dark brown to black, can be almost solid at room temp.
Asphalt
and tar
Lubricating oil
Light
Light & sweet
More fluid, often nearly transparent to light yellow or brown, flows easily
Highest value, the champagne of oils
Light & sour
Heavy & sweet
Moderate value, easy to refine but needs sulfur removal
Lower value, harder to refine than light & sour
Heavy & sour
Lowest value, most difficult to refine and transport
Kerosene
Gasoline
Heavy
Thick, tar-like, dark brown to black, can be almost solid at room temperature
Butane
Lubricating oil
Jet fuel
Diesel fuel
Paraffin wax
Asphalt and tar
