How a Refinery Works

Ever wondered how an oil refinery works?

Now you can learn more about the technology involved in refining crude oil into the thousands of petroleum-based products you use everyday.

Oil Refining: A Closer Look

This interactive gives students an opportunity to learn how oil is transformed from its "raw" state to more useable forms. An introductory movie offers background on how petroleum came to exist in the fist place and why it can be used as a source of energy. Students then can run the distillation and treatement processes that change crude oil into everything from gasoline to roofing tiles.

How Oil Refining Works (from How Stuff Works)

This article examines the chemistry and technology involved in refining crude oil to produce gasoline, diesel and many other products including plastics, heating oil, jet fuel, kerosene, synthetic fibers and tires.