Uses of Petroluem

Oil and Everyday Life

“There is no substitute for energy; the whole edifice of modern life is built upon it. Although energy can be bought and sold like any other commodity, it is not just another commodity, but the precondition of all commodities, a basic factor equally with air, water and earth.” Said by (German Economist 1964.) Black gold (oil) is considered one of the most important, out of the many, energy sources in the earth. According to the EIA [U.S. Energy Information Administration] the world currently consumes 85.64 million barrels of crude oil daily. With the current market prices of $87.74 per barrel (oil price), crude oil cost 7.4 billion every single day.

 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2009

As shown by the picture above, Petroleum is an important factor of our everyday lives, and its demand is different in different sectors.

Uses if Crude Oil

As we saw above, in the refining section, after crude oil is removed from the ground, it is sent to a refinery by pipeline, ship, or barge (discussed later under the Transportation Of Oil section). At a refinery, different parts of the crude oil are separated into useable petroleum products.

As seen above, one barrel of crude oil, when refined, produces about 19 gallons of finished motor gasoline, and 10 gallons of diesel, as well as other petroleum products. Most petroleum products are used to produce energy, for example, propane to heat homes.

Oil and Petroleum Products and uses

* Gasoline

* Diesel

* Kerosene

* Fuel oil

* Liquefied petroleum gas

* Jet fuel

* Ethane

* Lubricants

* Wax

Gasoline is a combination of petroleum-derived liquid used mainly as fuel in internal combustion engines. It is also used as a solvent, known primarily for its ability to alleviate the paint.

Diesel fuel in any liquid fuel used in diesel engines, the most common are the products of fractional distillation...