How Oil Refining Works HowStuffWorks
How Oil Refining Works. by Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. NEXT PAGE . Oil Fields Image Gallery Refineries turn crude oil into products such as gasoline and plastics. See more pictures of oil fields and refining. Photo courtesy Phillips Petroleum Company In movies and television shows -- Giant, Oklahoma Crude, Armageddon, Beverly Hillbillies-- we have seen images of thick, black crude oil gushing
The problem with crude oil is that it contains hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons all mixed together. You have to separate the different types of hydrocarbons to have anything useful. Fortunately there is an easy way to separate things, and this is what oil refining is all about.
Crude Oil How Oil Refining Works HowStuffWorks
Crude oil is the term for "unprocessed" oil, the stuff that comes out of the ground. It is also known as petroleum. Crude oil is a fossil fuel, meaning that it was made naturally from decaying plants and animals living in ancient seas millions of years ago -- most places you can find crude oil
As mentioned previously, a barrel of crude oil has a mixture of all sorts of hydrocarbons in it. Oil refining separates everything into useful substances. Chemists use the following steps: The products are stored on-site until they can be delivered to various markets such as gas stations, airports
How Dubai Works HowStuffWorks
The strategy has worked. Today, oil accounts for very little of Dubai's revenue, yet the emirate's gross product has exploded. Relatively relaxed laws and religious moderation have made Dubai palatable for expatriates attracted by business opportunities. The city has become a diverse, largely tolerant bastion in a region splintered by
Distillated and chemically processed fractions are treated to remove impurities, such as organic compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, water, dissolved metals and inorganic salts. Treating is usually done by passing the fractions through the following: a column of sulfuric acid removes
Chemical Processing How Oil Refining Works
Cracking takes large hydrocarbons and breaks them into smaller ones. Now that we have seen how various fractions are changed, we will discuss the how the fractions are treated and blended to make commercial products. An oil refinery is a combination of all of these units. Get the best of
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How Oil Refining Works by Craig C. Freudenrich, Ph.D.: In movies and television shows -- Giant, Oklahoma Crude, Armageddon, Beverly Hillbillies-- we have seen images of thick, black crude oil gushing out of the ground or a drilling platform.But when you pump the gasoline for your car, you've probably noticed that it is clear.