Crude oil comes in hundreds of different varieties or "grades". These grades are valued differently by refiners based on their crude qualities.
There are a wide variety of different properties that are used to distinguish between crude grades. These are detailed in a chemical analysis of the crude called a crude assay.
The most common characteristics used to identify the quality of a crude are its API gravity and its sulfur content. The highest valued crude grades are typically those with high API gravity and low sulfur content. These are referred to as "light-sweet crudes". At the opposite end of the spectrum are the grades with low API gravity and high sulfur content, which are referred to as "heavy-sour crudes".
Some of the more common crude oil grades with regular price assessments can be found below:
Name API %S Country
Abu Attifel 43.3 0.05 Libya
Agbami 47.2 0.05 Nigeria
Akpo 45.8 0.07 Nigeria
Al Shaheen 30.3 1.90 Qatar
Alba 53.0 0.02 Equatorial Guinea
Albacora Leste 20.0 0.59 Brazil
Albian Heavy 19.6 2.40 Canada
Algerian Condensate 68.7 0.001 Algeria
Al-Jurf 30.2 1.90 Libya
Alvheim 34.9 0.17 Norway
Amenam 40.8 0.09 Nigeria
Amna 37.0 0.17 Libya
ANS 31.4 0.96 US
Antan blend 29.2 0.30 Nigeria
Arab Extra Light 40.0 1.09 Saudi Arabia
Arab Heavy 28.0 2.80 Saudi Arabia
Arab Light 33.0 1.77 Saudi Arabia
Arab Medium 31.0 2.55 Saudi Arabia
Arab Super Light 51.0 0.09 Saudi Arabia
Ardjuna 37.0 0.09 Indonesia
Asgard 52.0 0.14 Norway
Attaka 43.0 0.09 Indonesia
Azadegan 32.0 Iran
Azeri Light 34.9 0.55 Azerbaijan
Bach Ho 39.0 0.04 Vietnam
Bakken 42.1 0.18 US
Balder 30.1 0.48 Norway
Banoco 31.8 2.45 Bahrain
Basrah Heavy 23.6 4.20 Iraq
Basrah Light 30.0 2.92 Iraq
Bayu-Undan 55.9 0.007 Australia
BCF-17 16.5 2.53 Venezuela
Belanak 47.8 0.02 Indonesia
Belayim 25.3 2.47 Egypt
Belida 45.0 0.02 Indonesia
Bintulu 56.2 0.05 Malaysia
Bonga 29.4 0.25 Nigeria
Bonito 33.5 1.32 Brazil
Bonny Light 34.5 0.14 Nigeria
Boscan 10.1 4.80 Venezuela
Bouri 25.9 Libya
Bow River 24.7 2.10 Canada
Brass River 36.5 0.13 Nigeria
Brega 42.0 0.22 Libya
Brent 37.9 0.45 UK
BTC 36.6 0.16 Azerbaijan
Cabinda 32.5 0.13 Angola
Cambay 43.8 0.04 India
Cano Limon 29.1 0.50 Colombia
Captain 19.2 0.70 UK
Castilla 18.8 1.97 Colombia
Ceiba 30.1 0.42 Equatorial Guinea
Cepu 32.0 0.15 Indonesia
Champion 28.0 0.12 Brunei
Changqing 49.0 0.20 China
Cheleken 35.0 0.15 Indonesia
Cinta 32.7 0.12 Indonesia
CJ Blend 35.7 0.10 Nigeria
Clair 23.7 0.44 UK
Cold Lake 19.9 3.25 Canada
Cossack 48.0 0.04 Australia
CPC blend 46.6 0.55 Kazakhstan
Cusiana 44.1 0.11 Colombia
Dalia 23.7 0.49 Angola
Daqing 32.7 0.10 China
Dar 26.4 0.12 Sudan
Das 39.2 1.30 UAE
Djeno 27.6 0.34 Rep Congo
Doba 25.1 0.08 Chad
Dorood 32.8 2.90 Iran
Draugen 39.9 0.15 Norway
Dubai 31.0 2.04 UAE
DUC 33.5 0.25 Denmark
Dukhan 41.1 1.22 Qatar
Duri 21.5 0.20 Indonesia
EA Blend 30.5 0.11 Nigeria
Eagle Ford 45.0 0.20 US
Egina 27.3 0.17 Nigeria
Ekofisk 37.5 0.23 Norway
El-Sharara 42.1 0.07 Egypt
Enfield 22.0 0.12 Australia
Eocene 18.7 3.97 Neutral Zone
Erha 33.7 0.18 Nigeria
Es Sider 36.2 0.49 Libya
Escalante 24.1 0.19 Argentina
Escravos 34.0 0.15 Nigeria
ESPO 36.0 0.50 Russia
Eugene Island 36.0 1.20 US
Flotta 36.9 0.82 UK
Foinaven 26.8 0.37 UK
Forcados 30.0 0.15 Nigeria
Foroozan blend 30.1 2.31 Iran
Forties 40.3 0.56 UK
Frade 18.0 0.72 Brazil
Gimboa 25.3 0.56 Angola
Gippsland 48.0 0.10 Australia
Girassol 31.0 0.33 Angola
Grane 27.5 0.64 Norway
Griffin 5.0 0.03 Australia
Gullfaks 36.2 0.26 Norway
Hamaca 26.0 1.55 Venezuela
Handil 33.8 0.07 Indonesia
Hebron 20.4 0.79 Canada
Heidrun 25.0 0.52 Norway
Hibernia 34.6 0.47 Canada
HLS 33.5 0.42 US
Hungo 27.4 0.65 Angola
Icthys 50.0 0.09 Australia
Iran heavy 30.7 1.80 Iran
Iran Light 33.7 1.50 Iran
Isthmus 33.6 1.30 Mexico
Johan Sverdrup 28.0 0.80 Norway
Jubilee 36.4 0.26 Ghana
Karachaganak 44.7 0.81 Kazakhstan
Kashagan 43.0 0.80 Kazakhstan
Kebco 29.9 1.72 Kazakhstan
Kern River 13.0 1.10 California
Khafji 29.0 2.85 Neutral Zone
Kikeh 36.7 0.06 Malaysia
Kimanis 38.6 0.06 Malaysia
Kirkuk 36.0 2.00 Iraq
Kissanje 30.7 0.36 Angola
Kole 30.2 0.34 Cameroon
Kuito 22.0 0.73 Angola
Kumkol 41.2 0.11 Kazakhstan
Kutubu 45.0 0.04 Papua New Guinea
Kuwait 31.0 2.52 Kuwait
Labuan 29.9 0.03 Malaysia
Lavan Blend 35.2 1.78 Iran
LHS 42.0 0.45 US
Line 63 28.0 1.02 US
Liza 32.0 0.58 Guyana
LLB 20.9 3.46 Canada
LLS 38.5 0.39 US
Loreto 18.1 1.30 Peru
LSB 36.1 1.05 Canada
Maari 37.7 0.08 New Zealand
Magdalena 20.0 1.60 Colombia
Mandji 30.0 1.00 Gabon
Marib 43.3 0.17 Yemen
Marlim 19.2 0.78 Brazil
Mars 28.0 1.93 US
Masila 31.0 0.54 Yemen
Maya 22.0 3.30 Mexico
Medanito 42.5 0.30 Argentina
Mellitah 42.0 0.10 Libya
Merey 16.0 2.45 Venezuela
Mesa 30 30.0 0.90 Venezuela
Midale 30.0 2.35 Canada
Midway Sunset 13.0 1.20 US
Minas 35.0 0.08 Indonesia
Miri light 29.8 0.08 Malaysia
Monagas 18 18.0 3.34 Venezuela
Mondo 29.9 0.42 Angola
Mostarda 28.2 1.83 Angola
MSW 40.5 0.40 Canada
Murban 40.4 0.79 UAE
N'Kossa 41.3 0.18 Congo
Nanhai light 39.5 0.05 China
Napo 19.0 2.01 Ecuador
Nemba 38.7 0.19 Angola
New Zafiro 30.6 0.27 Equatorial Guinea
Nile Blend 32.8 0.05 Sudan
Niobrara 39.0 0.39 US
Norne 32.7 0.21 Norway
NW Shelf 60.0 0.01 Australia
Nowruz-Soroush 18.9 3.44 Iran
Okono 40.7 0.07 Nigeria
Olmeca 39.3 0.80 Mexico
Oman 33.3 1.06 Oman
Oriente 24.0 1.40 Ecuador
Oseberg 39.6 0.20 Norway
Palanca 37.2 0.18 Angola
Panyu 30.0 0.25 China
Pazflor 25.6 0.43 Angola
Peng Lai 21.2 0.30 China
Petrozuata 20.0 2.90 Venezuela
Plutonio 33.2 0.37 Angola
Poseidon 30.5 1.70 US
Pyrenees 19.0 0.21 Australia
Qua Iboe 36.6 0.13 Nigeria
Qatar land 41.1 1.22 Qatar
Qatar marine 36.2 1.60 Qatar
Qatari DFC 55.0 0.74 Qatar
Qatari LSC 59.1 0.10 Qatar
Rabi 33.2 0.14 Gabon
Rajasthan 29.5 0.09 India
Rang Dong 39.6 0.05 Vietnam
Ravva 36.0 0.07 India
Roncador 19.8 0.93 Brazil
Saharan blend 46.0 0.10 Algeria
Sakhalin blend 44.7 0.16 Russia
San Joaquin 26.0 1.10 US
Santa Barbara 36.0 0.95 Venezuela
Sarir 38.0 0.83 Libya
Saxi Batuque 32.6 0.28 Angola
Schiehallion 25.5 0.47 UK
Senipah 51.0 0.03 indonesia
Seria Blend 38.0 0.08 Brunei
Shengli 24.0 0.90 China
Siberian light 34.8 0.57 Russia
Sirri 33.3 1.79 Iran
Sirtica 41.0 0.40 Libya
Sleipner Cond 63.2 0.02 Norway
Sokol 35.6 0.27 Russia
Souedieh 23.1 4.20 Syria
Southern Green Canyon 28.5 2.14 US
Statfjord 39.1 0.22 Norway
Stybarrow 22.8 0.12 Australia
Sutu Den 35.8 0.05 Vietnam
Suez blend 30.4 1.65 Egypt
Syncrude Sweet 33.0 0.16 Canada
Syrian heavy 23.1 4.19 Syria
Syrian light 38.0 0.68 Syria
Tapis 46.0 0.02 Malaysia
Tengiz 47.5 0.47 Kazakhstan
Terra Nova 33.2 0.48 Canada
THUMS 17.0 1.50 US
Thunder Horse 31.5 0.96 US
Tia Juana light 31.9 1.18 Venezuela
Troll 35.9 0.14 Norway
Tui 42.3 0.07 New Zealand
Tupi 29.0 0.88 Brazil
Umm Lulu 41.6 0.68 UAE
Umm Shaif 36.5 1.39 Abu Dhabi
Upper Zakum 34.0 1.95 UAE
Urals 30.6 1.48 Russia
Usan 29.9 0.28 Nigeria
Van Gogh 17.0 0.37 Australia
Vasconia 24.3 0.83 Colombia
Vincent 18.5 0.55 Australia
Vityaz 39.0 0.18 Russia
Volve 29.8 1.72 Neutral Zone
Wafra 24.5 3.88 Neutral Zone
WCS 20.1 3.64 Canada
West Seno 38.0 0.12 Indonesia
White Cliffs 46.0 0.39 US
White Rose 30.6 0.28 Canada
Widuri 33.3 0.07 Indonesia
Wilmington 17.0 1.20 US
WTI 42.0 0.45 US
WTS 38.0 0.50 US
Wyoming Sweet 32.0 0.90 US
Yoho 40.1 0.10 Nigeria
YK blend 33.7 0.76 Russia
Zafiro 29.5 0.26 Equatorial Guinea
Zakum 40.9 1.03 Abu Dhabi
Zarzaitine 42.8 0.06 Algeria
Zuata Sweet 31.0 0.13 Venezuela
Zueitina 41.5 0.31 Libya