Light tight oil is crude oil produced from thin, tight formations using unconventional production techniques including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Light tight oil production is concentrated in the US where it is the primary source of oil supply growth over the past few years. Major production areas include the Permian Basin in West Texas and the Bakken formation of North Dakota.

LTO is generally a very light (API 45-50) and sweet (< 0.1% sulfur) crude grade.