crude oil classification

Crude oil classification refers to categorizing oil based on its key properties, mainly its density and nitrogen content. Density, measured as API gravity, indicates how heavy or light the oil is; lighter oils have higher API scores and are easier to process into fuels like gasoline. The nitrogen content impacts refining; oils with low nitrogen are more desirable because they are easier to refine. Typically, crude oils are classified as light, medium, or heavy, with light oils being more valuable due to easier processing, and can also be labeled as sweet or sour depending on sulfur content, affecting refining and use.