From oil-field to refinery

 

 

 

Oil is often found in remote places. It is drilled in the middle of seas, hot deserts and frozen lands. After the oil has been brought to the surface, it is taken from the rig to a refinery. In the refinery it can be turned into many useful products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil is carried along pipes or in huge ships.

Oil is transported to refineries by pipelines. Pipelines run along the seabed or across land. Overland pipeline networks run for thousands of kilometres across North America. Oil travels by sea in huge tanker ships. These ships are nicknamed supertankers. They are as long as four football pitches placed end to end!

 

 

 

 

 

Oil refineries are like huge factories.

At a refinery, crude oil is separated out into different substances. These can be used for many different things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The oil is separated out in this tower.

At the refinery, heated crude oil is fed into a tall tower called a fractionating tower. The tower is coolest at the top and hottest at the bottom. The crude oil separates into different substances. The lightest gases rise to the top of the tower and the heavier substances are below. Products such as kerosene and petrol are piped off at different levels within the tower.