Oil & Gas Refining
Oil and gas refining is the industrial process of converting crude oil and natural gas into usable products such as fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals. This is done in large processing facilities known as refineries.
Key Processes in Oil Refining:
- Separation (Distillation) – Crude oil is heated in a distillation column to separate it into different components based on boiling points (e.g., gasoline, diesel, kerosene).
- Conversion (Cracking & Reforming) – Heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into lighter, more valuable products using thermal or catalytic cracking. Reforming alters the structure of molecules to improve fuel quality.
- Treatment (Purification & Blending) – Removes impurities like sulfur and nitrogen through processes such as hydrodesulfurization, improving fuel quality and reducing emissions.
Key Processes in Gas Processing:
- Separation of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) – Extracting valuable components like ethane, propane, and butane.
- Sulfur Removal – Extracting hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) to produce elemental sulfur.
- Liquefaction – Cooling natural gas to form Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for easier transport.
Main Products of Refining:
- Fuels – Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).
- Lubricants – Engine and industrial oils.
- Petrochemicals – Used in plastics, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.
- Asphalt & Residual Products – Used in road construction and power generation.