Note: A 42-U.S. gallon barrel of crude oil yields about 45 gallons of petroleum products.
What Fuels Are Made from Crude Oil?
After crude oil is removed from the ground, it is sent to a refinery by pipeline, ship, or barge. At a refinery, different parts of the crude oil are separated into useable petroleum products. Crude oil is measured in barrels (abbreviated "bbls").
A 42-U.S. gallon barrel of crude oil provides about 45 gallons of petroleum products. This gain from processing the crude oil is similar to what happens to popcorn, which gets bigger after it's popped. The gain from processing is 7%.
One barrel of crude oil, when refined, produces about 19 gallons of finished motor gasoline, and 10 gallons of diesel, as well as other petroleum products. Most petroleum products are used to produce energy. For instance, many people across the United States use propane to heat their homes.
Did You Know?
A barrel's capacity often depends on who uses the term, or what it contains. For example:
1 barrel (bbl) of petroleum or related products = 42 gallons
1 barrel of Portland cement = 376 pounds
1 barrel of flour = 196 pounds
1 barrel of pork or fish = 200 pounds
1 barrel of (US) dry measure = 3.29122 bushels or 4.2104 cubic feet
A barrel may be called a "drum," but a drum usually holds 55 gallons!
Other products made from petroleum include:
- Ink
- Crayons
- Dishwashing liquids
- Deodorant
- Eyeglasses
- CDs and DVDs
- Tires
- Ammonia
- Heart valves
What Is a Refinery?
A refinery is a factory. Just as a paper mill turns lumber into paper, a refinery takes crude oil and turns it into gasoline and many other useful petroleum products.
Refineries Operate 24/7
A typical refinery costs billions of dollars to build and millions more to maintain. A refinery runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and requires a large number of employees to run it. A refinery can occupy as much land as several hundred football fields. Workers often ride bicycles to move from place to place inside the complex.