Crude grade comparison

Western Canadian Select vs Captain

Price, Western Canadian Select spread, quality and refinery yields side by side. Updated July 06, 2026.

Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan)

Western Canadian Select

$56.20USD/BBL

▼ -0.14 (-0.25%)

Class: Heavy/Sour
API: 20.5°
Sulfur: 3.43%

Western Canadian Select – Captain spread -- USD/BBL · Western Canadian Select premium

Captain field, North Sea

Captain

Class: Heavy/Sour
API: 19°
Sulfur: 0.5%

Western Canadian Select Crude vs Captain Crude: on July 06, 2026 Western Canadian Select settled at $56.20/bbl (-0.25%) and Captain price information is not available. Western Canadian Select is heavy/sour crude (20.5° API, 3.43% sulfur); Captain is heavy/sour crude (19° API, 0.5% sulfur).

Crude quality

Quality & refinery yields

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

Western Canadian Select Crude
Captain Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter

WCS20.5°

C19°

Sulfur contenthigher = sourer

WCS3.43%

C0.5%

Densityhigher = heavier

WCS0.96 g/cm³

C g/cm³

Viscosityhigher = thicker

WCS200 cSt

C cSt

Pour pointhigher = waxier

WCS-22 °C

C °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel

WCS15-20%

Diesel% of barrel

WCS25-30%

Jet fuel% of barrel

WCS05-08'%

Residual fuel% of barrel

WCS35-40%

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 Western Canadian Select Crude and Captain Crude
Property	Western Canadian Select Crude	Captain Crude	Western Canadian Select − Captain
Classification
Classification	Heavy/Sour	Heavy/Sour
Origin	Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan)	Captain field, North Sea
Chemical properties
API gravity	20.5° API	19° API	+1.5 °API
Sulfur content	3.43%	0.5%	+2.93%
Density	0.96 g/cm³	g/cm³	+0.96 g/cm³
Pour point	-22 °C	°C	-22 °C
Viscosity	200 cSt	cSt	+200 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline	15-20%	%	+20 pts
Diesel	25-30%	%	+30 pts
Jet fuel	05-08'%	%	+8 pts
Residual fuel	35-40%	%	+40 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basis	Hardisty, Alberta; Cushing	FOB
Major exchanges	Argus (Hardisty WCS); ICE
Export hub	Hardisty, Alberta	North Sea offshore loading
Main destinations	US Midwest (cokers), Gulf Coast	Northwest Europe
Benchmark type	Regional (N. America)
Market profile
Key characteristics	Bitumen blend, requires upgrading/dilution, heavy processing	Heavy, viscous North Sea crude
Refining notes	Very high residuum (bitumen); needs upgrading (coking)	Fuel oil feedstock

FAQ

Western Canadian Select vs Captain questions

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

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July 06, 2026 Western Canadian Select Crude was $56.20 and Captain Crude $ per barrel, so Captain traded at a premium of $0 over Western Canadian Select. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -- $/bbl, with Captain priced above Western Canadian Select on 0 day(s).

Western Canadian Select Crude is a heavy/sour Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) crude (20.5° API, 3.43% sulfur) and Regional (N. America) benchmark. Captain Crude is a heavy/sour Captain field, North Sea crude (19° API, 0.5% sulfur) and benchmark.

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