Crude oil reference: quick breakdown

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MK
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Crude oil reference: quick breakdown

Postby MK » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:47 pm

The business section of the Chicago Tribune did three features on rising oil/gas prices: the impact of transportation ("Cabs, buses, vacationers and shippers"), how "Consumers hold (the) key to limiting loss," and how there's been "No windfall for Midwest's corn-based fuel." Accompanying that is breakdown of crude oil, and what products are yielded from distillation. Just thought I'd paste it here for any future threads on oil ('cause the problem ain't gonna go away):

A standard U.S. 42 gallon barrel of crude oil yields slightly more than 44 gallons of petroleum products due to a reduction in density during the refining process (which is why the following adds up to > 42 gallons per barrel).

19.7 gallons/barrel: GASOLINE. Motor fuel, primarily used by automobiles and light trucks. Also boats, recreational vehicles, and various farm and other equipment.

10.0 gallons/barrel: DIESEL FUEL and HEATING OIL, as well as starting material for other products. Used in diesel engines of cars, boats, and motorbikes. Can also fuel home heating.

4.0 gallons/barrel: JET FUEL (KEROSENE). Fuel for jet engines and tractors, also starting material for other products. Can be used as a cooking fuel, but its use is mostly restricted to developing countries.

1.8 gallons/barrel: HEAVY FUEL OIL. Industrial fuel, starting material for other products. Provides power for electric utilities, factories, and large ships. Also used to heat large buildings.

1.8 gallons/barrel: (LIQUID) PETROLEUM GAS. Methane, ethane, propane, and butane. Used for heating, cooking and making plastics. Can be put under pressure to create liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

7.3 gallons/barrel: OTHER. Includes LUBRICATING OIL (Motor oil, grease, and other lubricants; grease used to pack wheel bearings; an ingredient in personal hygiene products like Vaseline), NAPHTHA/LIGROIN (Industrial solvents and cleaning fluids; intermediate component can be processed to make gasoline; used in dry-cleaning solvents, paint thinners) and RESIDUALS (Coke, asphalt, tar, waxes; starting material for other products; commonly used in roof shingles; can be used to make asphalt and road materials)

Source: Energy Department's Energy Information Administration
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