Frequently Asked Questions

What are petroleum products, and what is petroleum used for?

Petroleum products include transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating and electricity generation, asphalt and road oil, and feedstocks for making the chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials that are in nearly everything we use today. Of the 7.13 billion barrels of total U.S. petroleum product consumption in 2015, 47% was motor gasoline (includes ethanol), 20% was distillate fuel (heating oil and diesel fuel), and 8% was jet fuel.

Learn more:
What is the difference between crude oil, petroleum products, and petroleum?
Energy Explained: Oil: Crude oil and petroleum products
U.S. Petroleum Products Supplied

Last updated: October 18, 2016


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