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Sour crude oil is crude oil containing a high amount of the impurity sulfur. It is common to find crude oil containing some impurities. When the total sulfur level in the oil is more than 0.5% (by weight), the oil is called "sour". [1] The impurities need to be removed before this lower-quality crude can be refined into petrol, thereby ...
Although crude oil assays evaluate various chemical properties of the oil, the two most important properties determining a crude's value are its density (measured as API specific gravity) and its sulphur content (measured per mass). Crude oil is considered "heavy" if it has long hydrocarbon chains, or "light" if it has short hydrocarbon chains ...
Petroleum containing higher levels of sulfur is called sour crude oil. [3] In the Annual Energy Outlook crude type estimates, all Alaska and Gulf of Mexico oil production is assumed to be API gravity 27-35 degrees and medium sour. Northeast crude oil production consists of approximately 30% API 27-35 medium-sour and 60% API 35-40 sour.
Crude oil contains sulfur in its composition, with the latter being the most abundant element after carbon and hydrogen. [2] Depending on its source, the amount of sulfur present in crude oil can range from 0.05 to 10%. [3] Accordingly, the oil can be classified as sweet or sour if the sulfur concentration is below or above 0.5%, respectively. [4]
'Sour' crude oil has high natural sulphur content (at least 0.5%). [7] Extra treatment is required in the refining process; [6] impurities are removed to refine the crude into gasoline. [9] Due to the greater cost associated, it is more commonly refined into fuel oil and diesel - less valuable outputs than products of sweet crude oil. [9]
In 2012, US oil refineries recovered 7.4 million metric tons of sulfur, worth about $915 million, and amounting to 88% of the elemental sulfur produced in the US. [15] Sulfur removal (as well as other contaminants) was a key theme of US refinery investment during 1990 to 2017 leading to additional sulfur production.
Sahara Blend is a light crude, its extreme lightness and very low sulfur content makes it among the most popular with refineries for light derivatives such as gasoline and kerosene compared to Brent [1] and West Texas Intermediate (WTI). [2] [3] The API gravity of the Sahara Blend is around 45° and a sulfur content of 0.05%. [4]
Dubai Crude is generally used for pricing Persian Gulf crude oil exports to Asia. The Dubai benchmark is also known as Fateh, used in the United Arab Emirates. [1] Forward trade of Dubai Crude is limited to one or two months. Dubai Crude is a medium oil. It has a gravity of 31° API (specific gravity of 0.871) and a sulfur content of 2%/weight. [2]