About Crude Oil. Crude Oil is a naturally occurring, highly complex mixture, containing primarily carbon and hydrogen compounds. More specifically, the great majority of the compounds are paraffinic, cycloparaffinic and aromatic hydrocarbons, with small amounts of other elements, mostly oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. Petroleum is a yellowish to black liquid, with apolar characteristics, formed millions of years ago, through biological processes in organic deposits. It is mostly found in geological formations beneath the Earth’s surface; however, it can be found in porous rocks above it. Crude oil has many possible classifications, the most used are based on the geographic location it is produced/extracted, its API gravity and its sulfur content.

Crude oil has been used since ancient times; however, it only became important with the invention of the internal combustion engine and the rise in aviation history. The first oil refinery was built in 1856 and the first commercial oil well started its operation in 1858. Currently, there are countries’ economies based around petroleum, and it is estimated that the world consumes nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil every day. Petroleum is considered by many as the most important chemical in existence, since it is the source of nearly all fossil fuels, plastics/rubbers/resins and of an uncountable number of organic compounds.

Petroleum is transported depending on the quantity and the destination. The most common ways are via pipelines (well to refineries/storage facilities), marine vessels (ocean transportation), rail cars (landmass transportation, usually in DOT-11 cars, holding 34,500 US gallons) and trucks (land transportation, ranging from 400 to 7,500 US gallons). The biggest problem associated with its transportation are pollution and leakage/spilling, since the mixture is very toxic to living animals and the environment as a whole. Crude oil is flammable, so it should be kept away from heat, sparks, flame, or other sources of ignition. Petroleum is usually not stored in its crude form; it is refined to its derivatives.

Crude oil is one of the most important raw materials for the industry. It is employed as building block for the chemical industry, for fuel production, for plastic/rubber/resin manufacture, as well as to produce waxes, asphalt, and lubricants.