[citation needed] Synthetic crude is an intermediate product produced when an extra-heavy or unconventional oil source is upgraded into a transportable form.
[1] Synthetic crude may also be mixed, as a diluent, with heavy oil to create synbit.
Synbit is more viscous than synthetic crude, but can also be a less expensive alternative for transporting heavy oil to a conventional refinery.
[citation needed] Syncrude Canada, Suncor Energy Inc., and Canadian Natural Resources Limited are the three largest worldwide producers of synthetic crude with a cumulative production of approximately 600,000 barrels per day (95,000 m3/d).
[1] "Synthetic crude" may also refer to crude-like hydrocarbon mixes generated from other processes.