Brief Introduction to Refining Process in the Petroleum Industry

2 Brief Introduction to Refining Process in the Petroleum Industry [2] 

The complexity of a refining process varies from one refinery to another. In general, the more sophisticated the refinery the better its ability to upgrade crude oil into high value products and the cheaper they are to produce. Oil refineries perform three basic steps fractionation, conversion and treatment. 

The large-scale manufacture of chemicals from petroleum and natural gases has given rise to a large number of chemical manufacturing companies throughout the world. Chemicals other than petroleum products are also obtained from these products e.g. manufacture of plastics, pharmaceuticals and speciality chemical compounds. 

The petroleum industry often characterises crude oils according to their geological origin, each having different and unique properties. They can vary in consistency from a light volatile fluid to a semi-solid and are classified according to the US environmental protection agency as crude oil Types A, B, C and D as follows  

Type A crude oils. These are light, volatile, highly mobile, and clear and spread rapidly on a solid plane or water surface. They have strong odours, high evaporation rate, can penetrate porous surfaces, do not adhere to surfaces, can be flushed with water and are flammable. These oils are toxic to humans, fish and other biota. Most refined products, and many of the high quality light crude, can be included in this class. 

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