Oil and Gas Refining Basics

Learn the oil and gas refining basics to keep up with the industry

By Nikki Davis
Oil refining companies and plants can cost billions of dollars to build and millions of dollars to maintain, but the industry is lucrative and the jobs are well paying. Refineries run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and they turn our crude oil into gasoline and the plastic products we know today.

Oil refinery companies perform three basic steps on crude oil: separation, conversion, and treatment. They separate the petrochemicals, then they convert the oil into its finished product, and then finishing touches are added during the treatment stage such as adding chemicals that affect octane level and vapor pressure ratings.

To find out more about oil and gas refining basics:

1. Check out government resources on oil and gas refining.

2. Weigh both sides of the issue when it comes to oil and gas refineries.

3. Stay informed as to the latest industry news.

 

Learn oil and gas refining basics from the US government

Uncle Sam keeps an amazing portal of millions of web pages of information, including resources on oil and gas refining. You can learn more about how it is done, and how the US production affects the global economy.
Try: Look at the rankings of top U.S. oil refineries through the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Discover the process of refining. Learn from the EIA also how gasoline is created, and how the U.S. plays a part in the global market. The EIA also has a wonderful resource for parents, teachers and educators for children as well.

Look at both sides to the coin when it comes to oil and gas refineries

Industry and public opinion can vary greatly when it comes to oil and gas refineries. Look at both sides of the issue when it comes to working professionally with people in the oil and gas refining industry.
Try: Refining Online is a service of Astron International and is a web portal for the petroleum refining industry. There you can find information including market prices, services, events, directories and more. Public Citizen, on the other hand, is a public organization that does not take private funds to host it's website. It discusses a number of US issues including oil refining in this country.

Keep up with the latest oil and gas refining news

Stay up to date with the latest oil and gas refining news and information with industry trackers.
Try: Keep up on the latest oil and gas refinery news from Oil.com. Take advantage of the latest information from the ThomasNet Industrial Newsroom.

 

  • You may wonder if and when you may ever come into contact with anyone in the oil and gas refining industry, but the possibility is there. As natural resources are used up, more digging must take place, or there is always the potential that an oil or gas line may be ran through your personal or business property. Your business might be approached to do business with a refinery, or people in the industry may be in your social circle. Keep abreast of the topic and the latest information to stay informed and knowledgeable.

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