Saudi Arabia produces a range of crude oils, categorized by weight and sulfur content. While the majority is considered sour due to its high sulfur content, Saudi oil isn't simply "heavy" or "light." It's more accurate to say that Saudi Arabia produces both heavy and light crude oils.
Saudi Crude Oil Grades: A Spectrum
Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, produces several grades, offering diversity in the global market:
- Arabian Heavy: As the name suggests, this is a heavier crude oil.
- Arabian Medium: This grade falls between heavy and light in terms of weight and characteristics.
- Arabian Light: This is a lighter crude oil, commonly used as a benchmark in global pricing.
- Arabian Extra Light: An even lighter grade than Arabian Light.
- Arabian Super Light: The lightest grade produced by Saudi Arabia.
The reference states that "Saudi Arabia produces five grades of crude oil: Arabian Heavy, Arabian Medium, Arabian Light, Arabian Extra Light, and Arabian Super Light". This clearly demonstrates the variety in the weight of Saudi crude oil. The majority of this oil is classified as "sour" due to sulfur content exceeding 1%. However, this characteristic is distinct from the oil's weight classification.
Conclusion
The weight of Saudi crude oil varies significantly depending on the specific grade. Therefore, it's inaccurate to label it simply as "heavy" or "light."
