Unfortunately, as long as we need the light crude of the Saudi oil fields, such initiatives will never take place.

In New York, light sweet crude rose $1.54 a barrel, or 5.1 percent, to $31.74.

Many energy companies ignored the sands when light crude was fetching just $10 a barrel in the late 1990's, but no longer.

"Obviously, we'd love to find deposits with sweet light crude in shallow fields," said Mr. Nelson, who carefully explains the complex challenges his company faces.

April light sweet crude rose $1.28, to $23.27 a barrel, the highest price since Nov. 6, 1991.

We are looking at a situation where requirements for light crude are extremely high, and at the moment there is not much of it around.

Nigerian oil is 'light crude' of quality such that it is almost pure enough to burn immediately, without distillation, in automobiles.

The seismic data and chemistry indicate more light crude in the Sverdrup Basin than the Saudis ever had.

The Mega Borg's shipment of light crude would disperse much more rapidly than heavy crude, he said.

The January-delivery contract for light sweet crude fell 58 cents, to $19.15 a barrel.