Petroleum products are materials derived from crude oil as it is processed in oil refineries. Unlike petrochemicals, which are a collection of well-defined usually pure chemical compounds, petroleum products are complex mixtures. The majority of petroleum is converted to petroleum products, which includes several classes of fuels. According to the composition of the crude oil and depending on the demands of the market, refineries can produce different shares of petroleum products. The largest share of oil products is used as "energy carriers", i.e. various grades of fuel oil and gasoline. These fuels include or can be blended to give gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil, and heavier fuel oils. Heavier fractions can also be used to produce asphalt, tar, paraffin wax, lubricating and other heavy oils. Refineries also produce other chemicals, some of which are used in chemical processes to produce plastics and other useful materials. Since petroleum often contains a few percent sulfur-containing molecules, elemental sulfur is also often produced as a petroleum product. Carbon, in the form of petroleum coke, and hydrogen may also be produced as petroleum products. The hydrogen produced is often used as an intermediate product for other oil refinery processes such as hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization.
Specialty and By products
Oil refineries will blend various feedstocks, mix appropriate additives, provide short-term storage, and prepare for bulk loading to trucks, barges, product ships, and railcars.
Gaseous like propane, methane are stored in the petroleum.
Liquid fuels blending. Shipped by barge, rail, and tanker ship. May be shipped regionally in dedicated pipelines to point consumers, particularly aviation jet fuel to major airports, or piped to distributors in multi-product pipelines using product separators called pipeline inspection gauges.
Lubricants, usually shipped in bulk to an offsite packaging plant.
Paraffin wax, used in illumination and other uses. May be shipped in bulk to a site to prepare as packaged blocks.
Slack wax, a raw refinery output comprising a mixture of oil and wax used as a precursor for scale wax and paraffin wax and as-is in non-food products such as wax emulsions, construction board, matches, candles, rust protection, and vapour barriers.
Sulfur, byproduct of sulfur removal from petroleum, which contain percent of organosulfur compounds.
Bulk tar shipping for offsite unit packaging for use in tar-and-gravel roofing or similar uses.
Asphalt - used as a binder for gravel to form asphalt concrete, which is used for paving roads, lots, etc. An asphalt unit prepares bulk asphalt for shipment.
Petroleum coke, used in specialty carbon products such as certain types of electrodes, or as solid fuel.
Petrochemicals or petrochemical feedstocks such as ethylene and benzene-toluene-xylenes and others. These organic compounds are turned into polymers, plastics, and pharmaceuticals, among others.
Petroleum by-products
Over 6,000 items are made from petroleum waste by-products, including: fertilizer, flooring, perfume, insecticide, petroleum jelly, soap, vitamins and some essential amino acids. Out of all petroleum waste by-products, some are hazardous to health like toluene: a clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive smell. A serious health concern is that toluene may have an effect on your nervous system. Nervous system effects can be temporary, such as headaches, dizziness, or unconsciousness. However, effects such as incoordination, cognitive impairment, and vision and hearing loss may become permanent with repeated exposure, especially at high levels associated with intentional solvent abuse. High levels of toluene exposure during pregnancy, such as those associated with solvent abuse, may lead to developmental effects, such as retardation of mental abilities and growth in children. Other health effects of potential concern may include immune, kidney, liver, and reproductive effects.
