What is the Difference Between Heavy Oil and Light Oil?

The main difference between heavy oil and light oil lies in their viscosity, density, and the products they yield when processed. Here are the key differences:

• Viscosity: Heavy oil has a high viscosity and cannot flow easily, while light oil has a low viscosity and can flow freely.
• Density: Heavy oil has a higher density than light oil, making it appear thicker and flow slower.
• API Gravity: The American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity is a measurement used to determine the density of oil. Crude oil with an API gravity less than 30 is considered heavy, while oil with an API gravity greater than 30 is considered light.
• Processing: Heavy oil requires more processing and specialized equipment, such as catalytic cracking and advanced coking equipment, to produce refined products.
• Refined Products: Light oil typically produces a greater percentage of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels when processed, while heavy oil is mainly used to create products like asphalt and fuel oil.

In summary, heavy oil is characterized by its high viscosity, high density, and the need for specialized processing, while light oil has low viscosity, low density, and is primarily used to produce fuels like gasoline and diesel.

Comparative Table: Heavy Oil vs Light Oil

The key difference between heavy oil and light oil lies in their viscosity and flow properties. Heavy oil has a high viscosity and cannot flow easily, while light oil has a low viscosity and can flow freely. Here is a table summarizing the differences between heavy oil and light oil:

Heavy oil is also called asphaltic, dense, and viscous oil, while light oil is also known as conventional oil. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has created a scale, called API Gravity, to measure the density of oil. The higher the API, the lighter the oil, and the lower the API, the heavier the oil. Light oil is generally preferred in the industry because it requires less processing and produces a higher percentage of products like gasoline and diesel.