Refining petroleum is a complex process that has undergone significant changes throughout history. From antiquity, when oil was used for lighting and lubrication, to modern technologies that produce a wide range of valuable petroleum products. Let’s take a look at the main stages of modern oil refining in refineries.
The main stages of crude oil refining
- Distillation: The first stage of refining is the distillation, or fractionation, of crude oil. In refineries, crude oil is heated and then cooled in special columns to separate it into its various components by boiling.
- Conversion: After distillation, crude oil may be subjected to conversion processes including hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and other technologies to improve quality and increase the yield of valuable products.
- Fractionation: F ractions obtained from crude oil are further fractionated to produce specific petroleum products with different characteristics and properties.
- Purification and treatment: At the last stage, refined products undergo purification and treatment, including filtration, desulphurisation, hydrotreating and other processes aimed at improving their quality.
Types of petroleum products obtained in the process of refining crude oil and their use
Petrol: One of the most common petroleum products used in road transport and industry as a fuel.
Diesel: Used in diesel vehicle engines and many industrial processes.
Fuel oil: Used as a fuel for power plants, heating and electricity generation.
Paraffin: Used in aviation as jet fuel.
Petroleum fractions: Includes lubricating oils, gas and grease products used in industry and households.
Propane and butane: Gas fractions used as liquefied gas fuels or raw materials for plastics and fertiliser production.
Modern technology makes it possible not only to refine crude oil efficiently, but also to produce a wide range of valuable petroleum products to support economic activity and meet the needs of industry and the public.
Crude oil refining statistics and percentage of petroleum product types
The refining of crude oil produces different amounts of different types of petroleum products, depending on the technology used and market requirements. Under current conditions, typical percentages are as follows:
- Petrol: about 45-50%
- Diesel fuel: about 25-30%
- Fuel oil: about 10-15%
- Paraffin: about 5-10%
- Propane and butane: about 5%
- Other petroleum products (lubricating oils, petroleum fractions, etc.): about 5-10%
These values may vary depending on the specific plant and the technology used.
Volume of oil production and refining in the world
Currently, global oil production is around 90-100 million barrels per day. In terms of oil refining, the world refines about 80-90 million barrels per day.
Leading countries in production, refining and consumption of petroleum products
Oil production: The world’s largest oil producers include Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, China and Canada.
Refining: The leading refining countries include the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan.
Consumption of petroleum products: The largest consumers of petroleum products in the world are the USA, China, India, Russia and Japan.
These countries play an important role in the global petroleum industry, determining its trends and dynamics.
Consumption of petroleum products in the world’s leading countries
1. European Union (EU):
- Gasoline: about 45-50% of total petroleum product consumption (approximately 200-220 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 30-35% (approximately 130-150 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 10-15% (approximately 45-60 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 5-10% (approximately 20-40 million tonnes per year).
2. China:
- Gasoline: about 40-45% (approximately 250-280 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 35-40% (approximately 220-250 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 10-15% (approximately 60-90 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 5-10% (approximately 30-60 million tonnes per year).
3. India:
- Gasoline: about 30-35% (approximately 70-80 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 40-45% (approximately 90-100 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 15-20% (approximately 35-45 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 5-10% (approximately 10-20 million tonnes per year).
4. US:
- Gasoline: about 50-55% (approximately 250-280 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 25-30% (approximately 130-150 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 10-15% (approximately 50-70 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 5-10% (approximately 20-40 million tonnes per year).
5. Russia:
- Gasoline: about 40-45% (approximately 80-90 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 30-35% (approximately 60-70 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 15-20% (approximately 30-40 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 5-10% (approximately 10-20 million tonnes per year).
6. Japan:
- Gasoline: about 30-35% (approximately 40-50 million tonnes per year).
- Diesel: about 25-30% (approximately 30-40 million tonnes per year).
- Fuel oil: about 20-25% (approximately 25-30 million tonnes per year).
- Paraffin: about 15-20% (approximately 20-25 million tonnes per year).
These data are approximate and may vary slightly depending on the country and its economic characteristics. However, they reflect the general order of magnitude and trends in the consumption of petroleum products in these countries.
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