Medium crude oil is a type of crude oil classified by its density, which is measured using the American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity scale. It falls between light and heavy crude, with an API gravity typically ranging from \(22.3^{\circ}\) to \(31.1^{\circ}\). This density gives it a moderate viscosity, making it more difficult to extract and refine than light crude but easier than heavy crude. Medium crude is a blend of light and heavy hydrocarbons, and it can be refined into a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. Its market value and refining complexity are also in the middle of the range, making it a versatile and common type of crude oil in the global energy market.
Medium Crude is Primarily Composed of the Following Elements
Hydrocarbons (primary components) - long-chain alkanes (paraffins), cycloalkanes (naphthenes), aromatic hydrocarbons , resins and asphaltenes (high molecular weight, complex molecules)
Sulfur compounds - hydrogen sulfide, thiophenes, mercaptans, sulfides and disulfides
Nitrogen Compounds - pyridines, quinolines, other nitrogen heterocycles
Oxygen Compounds - phenols, carboxylic acids, ketones
Metals (usually in trace amounts) - nickel, vanadium, iron, copper
Inorganic Impurities - salts (e.g., sodium chloride), water, sediments and solids
High Density and Viscosity - API gravity typically less than \(20^{\circ}\), requires heating or diluents for transport
Resins and Asphaltenes - more than in light crude, less than in heavy crude
