Sweet Crude Oil

Sweet crude oil is a type of petroleum. The New York Mercantile Exchange designates petroleum with less than 0.42% sulfur as "sweet". Petroleum containing higher levels of sulfur is called sour crude oil.

Sweet crude oil contains small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. High-quality, low-sulfur crude oil is commonly used for processing into gasoline and is in high demand, particularly in the industrialized nations. "Light sweet crude oil" is the most sought-after version of crude oil as it contains a disproportionately large amount of these fractions that are used to process gasoline (naphtha), kerosene, and high-quality diesel (gas oil). The term "sweet" originates from the fact that a low level of sulfur provides the oil with a mildly sweet taste and pleasant smell. Nineteenth century prospectors would taste and smell small quantities of oil to determine its quality.

Read more about Sweet Crude Oil:  Producers, Pricing

Famous quotes containing the words sweet, crude and/or oil:

    See how from far upon the eastern road
    The star-led Wizards haste with odours sweet . . .
    John Milton (1608–1674)

    On the pavement
    of my trampled soul
    the soles of madmen
    stamp the prints of rude, crude words.
    Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893–1930)

    Eat what you can get.
    Where’s the salt
    in this dump of a village?
    And, Lucky Man,
    what’s the use
    of a salty thing
    if there’s no oil in it?
    Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)