Crude oil is a liquid fuel source located underground. It is extracted by drilling. Crude oil is used for transportation, petroleum products and plastics.
Element
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50 to 70 percent of crude oil is hydrocarbons. 6% to 10% of this is nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Less than 1% are metals such as copper, nickel, vanadium and iron.
Oil is called a fossil fuel because of its origin . It was created 400 million years ago when the remains of prehistoric algae and plankton fell to the ocean floor. It is combined with mud and then covered by sedimentary layers. Over millions of years, enormous pressure heated the wreckage. It first becomes a waxy substance called kerogen. After more pressure and heat it becomes liquid oil. That’s why it is a non-renewable resource. When this supply disappears, it takes millions of years for new oil to form.
use
Crude oil is the basis of many products. These products include transportation fuels such as gasoline , diesel and jet fuel. They also include fuel oil for heating and power generation . In 2017, the United States consumed 7.3 billion barrels of crude oil. Of this, 47% was used for gasoline, 20% for heating oil and diesel, and 8% for jet fuel. When hydrocarbons burn, they release the heat that formed them. In addition, they also release carbon dioxide.
Crude oil also produces petroleum products, according to the EIA report. When combined with other chemicals, oils are the basis for more than 6,000 items. Petroleum by-products can be used to produce tar, bitumen , paraffin and lubricants . It is also used in chemicals such as fertilizers, perfumes, pesticides, soaps and vitamin capsules.
From heart valves to plastic bags, oil is the basis of plastic. It is used for carbon fiber in aircraft, PVC pipes and cosmetics. For example, it takes about 16 gallons of crude oil to produce a sofa . About 40% of textiles contain some petroleum by-products.
type
WTI medium crude is very high quality because it is light in weight and low in sulfur. For these reasons, it is often referred to as “light, sweet” crude oil. These properties make it ideal for making gasoline. That’s why it’s the primary benchmark for U.S. crude.