In general, the main differences between Light and Heavy, Sweet and Sour crude oils are:
- Light crude oil has a lower density and flows freely at room temperature. It has higher price than heavy crude oil, because it produces a higher percentage of gasoline or diesel fuel.
- Heavy crude oil has a higher density than light crude oil.
- Sweet crude oil contains lower level of sulfur, therefore it is easy to refine, more desirable and valuable than sour crude.
- Sour crude oil contains higher level of sulfur, what makes it more expensive to refine.
The most valuable type of crude oil is Light sweet crude oil.