Rohölsorten

Rohölsorten, also known as crude oil grades, are distinct types of crude oil that differ in their physical and chemical properties. These properties influence their refining processes and the types of products that can be derived from them. The primary characteristics used to classify crude oil are its density and sulfur content.

Density is typically measured using the American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity scale. Crude oils with higher API gravity are considered lighter, while those with lower API gravity are heavier. Light crude oils generally contain more valuable products like gasoline and diesel, while heavy crude oils yield more fuel oil and bitumen.

Sulfur content is another crucial factor. Crude oils are classified as sweet if they contain less than 0.5% sulfur, and sour if they contain more. Sweet crude oils are preferred because they are easier and less expensive to refine into usable products, as the sulfur removal process (hydrodesulfurization) is costly and generates sulfur dioxide, an air pollutant. Sour crude oils require more intensive refining to remove sulfur.

Commonly traded benchmark crude oil grades include Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI). Brent Crude is a light, sweet crude oil extracted from the North Sea, often used as a global price benchmark. WTI is a light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States and is another significant benchmark. Other grades exist globally, each with its unique characteristics and market value, such as Dubai Crude (sour, medium gravity) and Urals Crude (sour, heavy gravity). The specific properties of a crude oil sort determine its market price and its suitability for different refining operations.