Crude intelligence
Compare Nigerian crude oil grades
Choose up to four grades to see their qualities side by side. Every figure comes from the grade database, so each carries the same source and date shown there.
| Select two or more grades above. Without JavaScript, use the sortable grade database. |
Reading the comparison
- API gravity measures density: higher is lighter. Lighter crudes generally yield more gasoline-range and distillate products; heavier ones more residue.
- Sulphur below about 0.5% is conventionally "sweet". Every Nigerian grade in our database qualifies.
- Total acid number (TAN) above about 1 mg KOH/g marks a high-acid crude that needs suitable refinery metallurgy.
- Pour point is the temperature below which the crude will not flow; positive values signal a waxy crude that may need heating in cold climates.
- Barrels per tonne is our derived figure from API gravity — see the method.
Figures with different evidence bases are not equally reliable: a 2025 laboratory assay outweighs a rounded typical value, which outweighs a seller's press statement. A blank means no citable figure exists, not zero. Brent, WTI and other international benchmarks are not yet included because we have not recorded a citable published assay for them.
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Found an error? Tell us — see our methodology and corrections policy.