The crude oil benchmark associated with North Sea production is Brent Crude.
Brent began as oil from the Brent field in the North Sea, but the benchmark now represents a broader basket of North Sea grades. Its price is used as a reference for many crude-oil transactions around the world. Physical cargoes and futures contracts linked to Brent help market participants compare prices across regions.
Brent is commonly described as a light, sweet crude because it has relatively low density and relatively little sulfur compared with heavier, sourer oils. Those qualities generally make it easier and less costly to refine into products, although actual refinery economics depend on equipment, transport, and market conditions.
West Texas Intermediate, or WTI, is another major benchmark and is strongly associated with the United States. Dubai crude is a leading reference for Middle Eastern oil sold into Asian markets. These benchmarks are related but are not interchangeable names for the same crude stream.