Rajan Wilcox
The amount of fuel in a barrel varies depending on the type of fuel and the location of the refinery. A standard oil barrel is defined as 42 US gallons or 159 litres, though the actual volume of a barrel can range from 100 to 200 litres. In the oil and gas industry, a barrel is a unit of measurement used to quantify the energy contained in a barrel of crude oil, also known as a barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). This unit is versatile and flexible, making it a common point of reference in the global oil trade. A 42-gallon barrel of crude oil contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products, including gasoline, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, and residual fuel. Gasoline typically accounts for 20 gallons of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels, while ULSD and heating oil make up 11 to 12 gallons of a refined barrel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Volume of a barrel of fuel | 42 US gallons, approximately 159 litres, or 35 imperial gallons |
| Components | Gasoline, Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), Kerosene/jet fuel, Hydrocarbon gas liquids, Residual fuel |
| Gasoline | 20 gallons or 45% of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels |
| Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) | 11 gallons or 25% of a refined barrel |
| Heating oil | 12 gallons of a refined barrel |
| Kerosene | 4 gallons or 9% of a refined barrel |
| Hydrocarbon gas liquids | 2 gallons or 4% of a refined barrel |
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What You'll Learn
A 42-gallon crude oil barrel contains 45 gallons of refined fuel products
A 42-US-gallon crude oil barrel contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined fuel products. The number of gallons of each refined product varies based on market demands and where the refinery is located.
In the United States, a 42-gallon barrel of crude oil typically produces about 19 to 20 gallons of motor gasoline, accounting for 45% of the refined fuel products. Gasoline is used as fuel for standard passenger vehicles, boats, power tools, and small engines. The remaining 22 to 23 gallons are refined into other products, with ultra-low-sulfur distillate fuel oil (most of which is sold as diesel fuel and heating oil) making up 11 to 13 gallons.
Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) is the second-largest portion of a refined product barrel, accounting for roughly 11 gallons or 25% of the finished product. ULSD is a versatile fuel used in agriculture equipment, heavy-duty transportation, home heating, and refrigerated equipment. Together with heating oil, it makes up 12 gallons of a refined barrel.
Other refined products derived from a barrel of crude oil include kerosene, hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL), and residual fuel. Kerosene accounts for roughly 4 gallons or 9% of the refined products, while HGL typically makes up approximately 2 gallons or 4%. These products have various applications, such as fuel for heaters, lamps, cooking stoves, water heaters, and aircraft engines.
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Gasoline accounts for 20 gallons of a 45-gallon barrel
Gasoline is one of the most important and prevalent refined products derived from crude oil in the United States. It is used as fuel for standard passenger vehicles, boats, power tools, and small engines.
A 42-gallon barrel of crude oil contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products, including gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, residual fuel, and others. Gasoline accounts for 20 gallons, or 45%, of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels.
ULSD, which is also used interchangeably with heating oil and biodiesel, is the second-largest portion of a refined product barrel. It equates to roughly 11 gallons, or 25%, of the finished product. This versatile fuel is used in agriculture equipment, heavy-duty transportation, home heating, and refrigerated equipment.
Other products derived from a barrel of crude oil include kerosene, which accounts for roughly 4 gallons or 9% of the refined products, and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL), which typically make up about 2 gallons or 4% of the refined products. The refining process of crude oil results in a diverse array of products, each serving distinct purposes across various industries.
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Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) accounts for 11 gallons
A 42-gallon crude oil barrel contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products, including ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). ULSD is a diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur content. Since 2006, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe and North America has been of the ULSD type.
ULSD is the second-largest portion of a refined product barrel, accounting for roughly 11 gallons, or 25%, of the finished product. This versatile fuel is used in agriculture equipment, heavy-duty transportation, home heating, and refrigerated equipment. ULSD is also used interchangeably with heating oil and biodiesel, and the products are often priced interchangeably.
The transition to ULSD comes with substantial costs. The US government estimated that pump prices for diesel fuel increased between 5 and 25 cents per US gallon due to the transition, and the domestic refining industry has invested over $8 billion to comply with the new regulations. The refining process that removes sulfur also reduces the fuel's lubricating properties and energy content by about 1%, which may result in slightly reduced peak power and fuel economy.
ULSD is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel that enables the use of improved pollution control devices that reduce diesel emissions more effectively. It contains a maximum of 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, a significant reduction from previous levels, which were as high as 3,000 ppm in Alaska's on-highway diesel.
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Kerosene accounts for 4 gallons
A 42-gallon crude oil barrel contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products. These refined crude oil products include ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, residual fuel, and many others.
Kerosene accounts for roughly 4 gallons, or about 9%, of the refined products derived from crude oil. This light petroleum distillate is commonly used as fuel in heaters, lamps, cooking stoves, and water heaters. It is also used as jet fuel for commercial and military aircraft engines.
The amount of kerosene in a barrel of fuel can vary depending on various factors such as supply and demand, geography, market fundamentals, and industry tendencies. For example, slight changes in the supply and demand of one crude oil refined product can result in price changes for other products, affecting the amount that is produced and sold.
Additionally, the specifications and grades of kerosene can vary depending on its intended use. Multiple grades of kerosene exist, and while kerosene-type jet fuel is created using similar refining techniques, it is differentiated from generic kerosene by specific aircraft configuration requirements.
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Hydrocarbon gas liquids make up 2 gallons
A 42-gallon crude oil barrel contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products. These products include ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, residual fuel, and many others. Hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) typically make up approximately 2 gallons, or 4%, of refined products.
HGLs are hydrocarbons that occur as gases at atmospheric pressure and as liquids under higher pressures. They can also be liquefied by cooling. HGLs may be described as being light or heavy depending on the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in an HGL molecule. For example, propane and butane are HGLs that were discovered by Dr. Walter Snelling in 1912. He found that cooling and pressuring these gases changed them into liquids, which could then be stored and transported in pressurized containers.
HGLs are extracted from natural gas at natural gas processing plants and from crude oil when it is refined into petroleum products. Natural gas plant liquids, which account for most HGL production in the United States, fall into the alkanes category. Refinery production accounts for the remainder of U.S. alkanes production and all olefins production. HGLs are useful for many purposes due to their versatility and high energy density in liquid form. They are used as feedstock in petrochemical plants to make chemicals, plastics, and synthetic rubber. In 2022, total HGL consumption accounted for about 17% of the total U.S. consumption.
HGLs are created through processes such as pyrolysis, solvent extraction, catalytic liquefaction, and indirect liquefaction. Pyrolysis involves heating coal to temperatures above 400°C (750°F), which results in the conversion of coal to gases, liquids, and char. The presence of hydrogen during the process can also affect the composition and relative amounts of the products formed.
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Frequently asked questions
A barrel of oil contains 42 US gallons or approximately 159 litres.
A barrel of crude oil can be refined into a diverse array of products, including gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, and residual fuel.
A barrel of crude oil can yield approximately 19 to 20 gallons of motor gasoline.
The price of a barrel of fuel varies over time and has been as high as $110 and as low as $30 in the past decade. The EIA expects the average price to be $79 per barrel in 2025.
