Sylvie Willis
Crude oil, also known as petroleum, is a naturally occurring fossil fuel consisting mainly of hydrocarbons. It is a vital source of energy and a key component in the production of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products. The amount of crude oil used for fuel varies by country, season, and refinery, but on average, over 85% of crude oil is refined into fuel, with gasoline accounting for 40-45% and diesel for 25-30%. In the US alone, approximately 20.28 million barrels of crude oil were consumed per day in 2022, powering transport, utilities, and serving as a raw material for various goods. Crude oil is an essential resource that significantly impacts our daily lives and the global economy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Crude oil barrel size | 42 gallons |
| Percentage of crude oil used for gasoline | 40-46% |
| Percentage of crude oil used for diesel | 25-30% |
| Percentage of crude oil used for aviation fuel | 5-10% |
| Percentage of crude oil used for other purposes | 15-25% |
| Percentage of US petroleum consumption that is distillate fuel oil | 20% |
| Percentage of distillate fuel oil that is diesel fuel | 100% |
| Percentage of distillate fuel oil that is heating oil | 100% |
| Percentage of refined products that are hydrocarbon gas liquids | 4% |
| Percentage of refined products that are residual fuel | 2% |
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline: 40-45% of crude oil
Gasoline, also known as motor gasoline, is one of the most important and prevalent refined products derived from crude oil. In fact, it is one of the largest petroleum-based products currently manufactured. Gasoline accounts for 40-45% of crude oil, though some sources state that it can be as high as 46%. This equates to roughly 45 gallons of gasoline being produced from a 42-gallon barrel of crude oil.
The production of gasoline from crude oil is part of the refining process, which results in a diverse array of products, each serving distinct purposes across various industries. Gasoline is integral to our daily lives as it fuels our daily commutes. The US consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2016, with motor gasoline consumption averaging about 9.3 million b/d.
The price dynamics of petroleum products can vary based on geography, market fundamentals, industry tendencies, and behind-the-scenes refining complexities. Understanding these factors provides a comprehensive perspective on the multifaceted petroleum industry. For example, the price of crude oil is measured in barrels, while production totals are measured in millions of barrels per day.
In addition to gasoline, other refined products derived from crude oil include ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), kerosene/jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, residual fuel, and lubricants. These products are used across various sectors, such as transportation, heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
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Diesel: 25-30% of crude oil
Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid that can be refined into various fuels and other petroleum-based products. Petroleum products are fuels made from crude oil and the hydrocarbons contained in natural gas. Crude oil is refined into petroleum products that are used for many different purposes, including propelling vehicles, heating buildings, and producing electricity.
Diesel fuel is one of the products created from crude oil. During the refining process, the viscous dark thick crude oil is turned into the much lighter diesel fuel. Crude oil is made up of various kinds of hydrocarbons (chains of hydrogen and carbon) of different lengths. The hydrocarbon chains in crude oil have different boiling points, with longer chains having higher boiling points.
The process of refining crude oil into diesel fuel involves heating the viscous liquid to over 400 degrees Celsius, turning it into a vapor. This vapor then enters a fractional distillation tower, where it starts to cool down. As the vapor rises, it reaches different temperature points and the hydrocarbon chains return to a liquid state. Distillation plates capture these liquids, with the longest chains emerging as asphalt or bitumen at the bottom, and shorter chains liquefying as the vapor cools further.
By recombining specific proportions of these shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates, diesel fuel is created. This diesel fuel is then blended with the required additives before being sold. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a type of diesel fuel that accounts for a significant portion of a refined product barrel, typically around 11 gallons or 25% of the finished product.
In the United States, distillate fuel oil, which includes diesel fuel, is the second-most-consumed petroleum product. It is used in various vehicles such as trucks, buses, tractors, boats, and trains, as well as in construction equipment and electricity generators. In 2022, the total consumption of distillate fuel oil averaged about 3.96 million barrels per day, contributing to 20% of total U.S. petroleum consumption.
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Aviation fuel: 5-10% of crude oil
Aviation fuels are derived from petroleum or are blends of petroleum and synthetic fuels. They are used to power aircraft and contain additives designed to enhance or preserve specific properties that are important for performance and handling. Most aviation fuels are jet fuels originating from crude oil, which is extracted from the kerosene fraction of crude oil. Crude oil must be refined to be useful, and jet fuel is just one of the many products that can be derived from it.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated the world's total refinery production in 2006 to be 3861 million tonnes, with aviation fuel accounting for 6.3%. This equates to an annual forecast of a 5% fuel demand growth and aviation fuel production fixed at 6.3% of crude oil production.
The aviation industry represents 7.8% of final oil consumption worldwide, with maritime shipping accounting for 6.7%. Consumption by the aviation industry is growing rapidly and is predicted to grow by 5% per year until 2026, with fuel demand increasing by about 3% per year.
There are alternatives to conventional fossil-based aviation fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and certain straight vegetable oils. SAF has the advantage of requiring few to no modifications to aircraft, provided that the fuel characteristics meet specifications for lubricity, density, and seal swelling. SAF and blends of fossil and sustainably-sourced alternative fuels yield lower emissions of particles and greenhouse gases. However, they are not widely used due to political, technological, and economic barriers, as well as their higher cost compared to conventionally produced aviation fuels.
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Kerosene: 9% of crude oil
Kerosene is a flammable liquid mixture of chemicals produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. It is a medium-weight distillate in the refining process and can be produced by distilling crude oil or by hydrocarbon cracking heavier petroleum. The process of distilling crude oil into kerosene was first written about in the ninth century by the Persian scholar Rāzi (or Rhazes) in his Kitab al-Asrar (Book of Secrets). In it, he described two methods for the production of kerosene, using clay as an absorbent and the other using chemicals like ammonium chloride (sal ammoniac).
Kerosene is a low-viscosity, clear liquid formed from hydrocarbons obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum between 150 and 275 °C (300 and 525 °F). It is composed of hydrocarbon molecules that typically contain between 6 and 20 carbon atoms per molecule, predominantly containing 9 to 16 carbon atoms. The density of kerosene is 0.82 g/cm³, and it is an incredibly versatile fuel with a wide variety of applications.
Kerosene is used in many industries and homes worldwide as a fuel for light, heat, and power. It is also used for cooking, heating, and lighting in the developing world. Kerosene lanterns are used in places without access to electricity, and it is estimated that globally, 500 million households use kerosene for lighting. In the UK, it is estimated that 1.5 million homes use kerosene for heating, accounting for approximately 5.6% of the 26.4 million homes not connected to the mains gas network.
Kerosene is also a significant component of aviation fuel, making up more than 60% of the fuel. In 2021, kerosene made up 8.5% by volume of petroleum refinery output in the United States, with nearly all of it being kerosene-type jet fuel (8.4%).
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Hydrocarbon gas liquids: 4% of crude oil
Hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs) are hydrocarbons that occur as gases at atmospheric pressure and as liquids under higher pressures. They can also be liquefied by cooling. HGLs are found in natural gas and crude oil, which are both mixtures of different hydrocarbons. The specific pressures and temperatures at which the gases liquefy vary by type of HGL. They are generally considered either light or heavy, depending on the number of hydrogen and carbon atoms in each molecule.
HGLs are produced when raw natural gas is processed at natural gas processing plants and when crude oil is refined into petroleum products. Most HGLs are separated from natural gas at natural gas processing plants. They are present as gases in geological formations that contain natural gas. Raw or untreated natural gas produced from natural gas and oil wells is called wet gas because it sometimes contains HGLs, along with water vapour and other non-hydrocarbon gases.
HGLs are extracted during the oil refining process and during natural gas processing at a natural gas plant. In the United States, natural gas plant liquids, a form of HGL, accounted for 82% of all HGL production as of December 2015. Oil refinery production accounts for the remainder of US alkanes production and all olefins production. Greater volumes of olefins are produced at petrochemical plants from HGL and heavier feedstock.
Propane and propylene are the main HGLs extracted during oil refining. HGLs from oil can be used in gasoline or petrochemical production or burned as fuel at oil refineries. They have a high energy density and multiple uses due to their ability to become liquids or gases. Propane, for example, is a common consumer product used as fuel for engines, portable stoves, and residential central heating.
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Frequently asked questions
Gasoline, or petrol, accounts for 40-45% of a barrel of refined fuels.
Diesel accounts for 25-30% of a barrel of refined fuels.
Aviation fuel, or jet fuel, accounts for 5-10% of a barrel of refined fuels.
Other products derived from crude oil include plastics, cosmetics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, asphalt, and wax.
