How to Get Petrol From the Refinery to the Service Station

By now you've read the information on how petrol or oil is made. Here's what happens next in the sequence: A refinery is basically one very large factory. Once crude oil is sent to the refinery via pipelines, it is transformed into petrol and a host of other products we use on a daily basis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

At the Refinery

1. How "gas and stuff" get separated:
   (Information courtesy of Chevron Learning Products)
   
   Crude oil is pumped in to "distillation towers," which separate the components in the crude oil. The distillation enables the lighter materials like the Liquid Petroleum Gas to rise to the top. The heavier materials such as the gas oils, which are known as "residuum" sink to the bottom of the distillation tower.
   
   The separation of these materials is essential because this will determine where the final product will be sent. For example, jet fuels need much less refining than the petrol you find at the pumps. So, the materials that need more refining are then sent to different "streams".
2. What it means to "Crack On!"
   
   The term "Cracking," is widely used in petroleum circles because in this process, heat and pressure are used to crack the heavier, more durable hydrocarbon molecules to become lighter.
   
   To read the exact process used in cracking, see the Chevron website located in the resources section.
3. How additives come in to the picture...
   
   In getting petrol to your local service stations, an intense form of cracking is used called “fluid catalytic cracking.” After this point, the lighter gasoline or petrol molecules are now formed. The refining process after this point may put in “Additives,” and dyes and other government required ingredients to make the petrol more environmentally sound. Also, it helps the performance of your vehicle.
4. From the refinery to your station:
   
   With the use of pipelines, road tankers and tankers transported by ship, the petrol is sent to distribution centers with the aid of highly skilled individuals. From the distribution centers, petrol is transported to local service stations, so that you the consumer, are able to fill up your petrol tank! And that is how it’s done!