Editing Synthetic crude (section)

{{Short description|Bitumen or extra heavy crude oil upgraded for transport}}
{{Distinguish|pyrolysis oil|synthetic oil|synthetic fuel}}

'''Synthetic crude''' is the output from a bitumen/extra heavy oil [[upgrader]] facility used in connection with [[oil sands|oil sand]] production. It may also refer to [[shale oil]], an output from an [[oil shale]] [[pyrolysis]]. The properties of the synthetic crude depend on the processes used in the upgrading. Typically, it is low in sulfur and has an [[API gravity]] of around 30. It is also known as "upgraded crude".{{cn|date=September 2019}}

Synthetic crude is an intermediate product produced when an extra-heavy or [[unconventional oil]] source is upgraded into a transportable form.<ref name=es/> Synthetic crude is then shipped to oil refineries where it is refined into finished products.<ref name=es/> Synthetic crude may also be mixed, as a diluent, with heavy oil to create [[dilbit|synbit]]. Synbit is more viscous than synthetic crude, but can also be a less expensive alternative for transporting heavy oil to a conventional refinery.{{cn|date=September 2019}}

[[Syncrude|Syncrude Canada]], [[Suncor Energy|Suncor Energy Inc.]], and [[Canadian Natural Resources Limited]] are the three largest worldwide producers of synthetic crude with a cumulative production of approximately {{convert|600000|oilbbl/d|m3/d}}. The NewGrade Energy Upgrader became operational in 1988, and was the first upgrader in Canada, now part of the [[CCRL Refinery Complex]]. <ref name=es>{{cite web
|url =http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/heavy_oil_upgraders.html
|title =Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan - HEAVY OIL UPGRADERS
|publisher =[[University of Regina]]
|accessdate = 2011-08-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305031551/https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/heavy_oil_upgraders.html
|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

"Synthetic crude" may also refer to crude-like hydrocarbon mixes generated from other processes. Examples are [[manure-derived synthetic crude oil]] and [[Aviation biofuel#Future production routes|greencrude]].