Crude grade comparison

Basrah Medium vs Kirkuk

Southern Iraq fields

Basrah Medium

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--
Class
Sour
API
27°
Sulfur
2.5%
VS
Basrah Medium – Kirkuk spread -- · Basrah Medium premium
Kirkuk field, northern Iraq

Kirkuk

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--
Class
Sour
API
35.1°
Sulfur
1.9%

Basrah Medium is sour crude (27° API, 2.5% sulfur); Kirkuk is sour crude (35.1° API, 1.9% sulfur).

Crude quality

Quality & refinery yields

How the two crudes differ in the barrel. Each property uses its own scale.

  • Basrah Medium Crude
  • Kirkuk Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
BM27°
K35.1°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
BM2.5%
K1.9%
Densityhigher = heavier
BM g/cm³
K g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
BM cSt
K cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
BM °C
K °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
Diesel% of barrel
Jet fuel% of barrel
Residual fuel% of barrel

Bars show each yield range; the faint part runs from 0 to the low end. Scale 0–50%.

Full specification comparison

Full specification comparison of Basrah Medium Crude and Kirkuk Crude
PropertyBasrah Medium CrudeKirkuk CrudeBasrah Medium − Kirkuk
Classification
ClassificationSourSour
OriginSouthern Iraq fieldsKirkuk field, northern Iraq
Chemical properties
API gravity27° API35.1° API-8.1 °API
Sulfur content2.5%1.9%+0.6%
Density g/cm³ g/cm³0 g/cm³
Pour point °C °C0 °C
Viscosity cSt cSt0 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline%%0 pts
Diesel%%0 pts
Jet fuel%%0 pts
Residual fuel%%0 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisFOBFOB/netback
Major exchanges
Export hubBasrah Oil TerminalHistorically Ceyhan (pipeline, currently disrupted)
Main destinationsAsia, EuropeHistorically Mediterranean/Europe
Benchmark type
Market profile
Key characteristicsHeavier sour Iraqi grade introduced alongside Basrah Light/Heavy splitHistoric northern Iraqi export grade, light-medium sour
Refining notesFuel oil feedstockFull-range refining feedstock
FAQ

Basrah Medium vs Kirkuk questions

The spread, the quality gap and why each grade is a benchmark.

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Basrah Medium Crude was $ and Kirkuk Crude $ per barrel, so Kirkuk traded at a premium of $0 over Basrah Medium. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -- $/bbl, with Kirkuk priced above Basrah Medium on 0 day(s).

Basrah Medium Crude is a sour Southern Iraq fields crude (27° API, 2.5% sulfur) and benchmark. Kirkuk Crude is a sour Kirkuk field, northern Iraq crude (35.1° API, 1.9% sulfur) and benchmark.