Crude oil — often mistakenly described as a single, standardized commodity — is anything but uniform. Every stream has its own chemical fingerprint, including differences in density, sulfur content and a host of other qualities. Those variations can have real consequences for refiners, traders and the folks who move the stuff around. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll dig into why crude quality matters and how it can make a real difference to the bottom line.
Canadian crude output is rising, requiring new export routes. As traditional pathways face constraints, the U.S. Rockies—especially the Guernsey, WY hub—are emerging as key corridors for moving Canadian heavy crude to downstream markets, including the Gulf Coast.
Let’s start with the basics. Crude quality is often measured by two main traits: density and sulfur content. Density is measured using API gravity, indicated in degrees (°). A higher API number means lighter crude, while a lower API number indicates the opposite. In general, crude oils above about 35° API are considered light (blue-shaded rows in Figure 1 below); those between roughly 25° and 35° API fall into the medium category (pink-shaded rows); and anything lower is heavy (green-shaded rows).
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About the song
“A Matter of Trust” was written by Billy Joel and appears as the third song on side one of his 10th studio album, The Bridge. Released as the second single from the album in July 1986, “A Matter of Trust” went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. Personnel on the record were: Billy Joel (lead, backing vocals, guitar, acoustic piano, synthesizer); David Brown and Russell Javors (guitar); Doug Stegmeyer (bass), Liberty DeVito (drums), and Jeff Bova (synthesizer).
The Bridge was recorded in 1985-86 at The Power Station, Chelsea Sound, and RCA Studios in New York City and Evergreen Studios in Burbank, CA. Produced by Phil Ramone, the album was released in July 1986. It went to #7 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, and has been certified 2X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Four singles were released from the LP.
Billy Joel is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed “the Piano Man” after his 1973 hit single of the same name, Joel has had a successful career as a solo artist since the early 1970s. Born in the Bronx, Joel started playing piano at 4. He began his professional career playing piano bars while still in high school. His first rock band, The Hassles, made two albums for United Artists Records in 1967. Joel left The Hassles in 1969 and formed the duo Attila, which released one LP in 1970. He released his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, in 1971. Joel has released 13 studio albums, seven live albums, 19 compilation albums and 62 singles and has sold more than 150 million records worldwide. He has won an American Music Award, five Brit Awards, six Grammy Awards and a Tony Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Joel, dealing with medical issues, made his last concert appearance at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, in February 2025. His last release was the single “Turn the Lights Back On,” which dropped in February 2024.
"About the Song" -- written by Mickey McMahan , RBN Director of Musicology
