| Key Terms |
Definition |
| API Gravity |
An arbitrary scale expressing the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products.
The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API; it is calculated as follows:
Degrees API = (141.5 / (sp. gr. 60ºF / 60ºF)) - 131.5
The higher the API gravity, the lighter the compound. Light crudes generally exceed 38 degrees API
and heavy crudes are commonly labeled as all crudes with an API gravity of 22 degrees or below.
Intermediate crudes fall in the range of 22 degrees to 38 degrees API gravity.
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| Crude Oil |
A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground
reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through
surface separating facilities. Depending upon the characteristics of the crude
stream, it may also include:
Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural
underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being
recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators and are subsequently
commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease
condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field
separation facilities and later mixed into the crude stream is also included;
Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced with the oil, such as sulfur and
various metals;
Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, oil sands,
gilsonite, and oil shale.
Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce
a wide array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels;
lubricants; asphalt; ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their
energy or chemical content.
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| F.O.B. Price (Free on Board) |
The price actually charged at the producing country's port of loading. The reported price
includes deductions for any rebates and discounts or additions of premiums where applicable
and should be the actual price paid with no adjustment for credit terms.
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| Imported |
Crude oil produced outside the U.S. and brought into the U.S.
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Values shown for the current two months are preliminary. Values
shown for the previous two months may be revised to account for late submissions
and corrections. Final revisions to monthly and annual values are available upon
publication of the
Petroleum Marketing Annual.
Annual averages that precede the release of the Petroleum Marketing Annual are
calculated from monthly data published in the
Petroleum Marketing Monthly.
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Values through 1980 reflect the month of reporting; values since then reflect
the month of acquisition, which can be the month of loading, the month of landing, or
something between those events. Prices for crude oil can be determined at a time other than
the acquisition date
(additional details).
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For purposes of this survey, the United States includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and all American territories and possessions.
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Data for Ecuador is included in Total OPEC for 1973-1992 and 2008 forward
(OPEC member 1973-1992 and November 2007 forward). Data for Gabon is
included in Total OPEC for 1974-1995 (OPEC member 1975-1994).
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