Crude oil

Crude oil is a fossil fuel that consists mainly of hydrocarbons and also contains other elements such as sulphur and nitrogen. Crude oil is ready for refining after purification and desalination and its quality depends on its origin.

Definition of crude oil
Crude oil is a fossil fuel composed primarily of hydrocarbons. Crude oil refers to unprocessed crude oil that is prepared for refining after the removal of coarse impurities. The quality of crude oil depends on its specific composition, particularly its sulfur content.

Background / Formation
Crude oil is formed under extreme pressure and temperature conditions through the conversion of organic substances that accumulate in sedimentary rocks. It is found in various geological formations such as sandstone, limestone, oil shales and oil sands. The targeted development of oil deposits only began in the 19th century, with crude oil becoming known as "black gold" due to its versatile applications. The major oil deposits are mainly located in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran.

Crude oil is produced after a purification process in which it is freed from coarse impurities, degassed, desalinated and dewatered. This treatment is crucial before the crude oil is processed in refineries. Different types of crude oil vary in quality based on their geographical origin. OPEC countries are often faced with poorer quality compared to higher quality crudes such as Brent and WTI.

Properties
Crude oil consists of at least 500 different components, the main components being hydrocarbons (alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics). It also contains naphthenic acids, phenols, resins, aldehydes and organic sulphur compounds.

Physical characteristics:
- Coloring: from light yellow to black, often with a fluorescence of yellow to green-blue.
- Density: between 0.82 and 0.94 grams per cubic centimeter.
- Viscosity: increases with prolonged contact with air.

Chemical properties:
- Solubility: dissolves well in ether, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride, poorly in ethanol and not at all in water.

Differences in quality:
The higher the sulphur content, the lower the quality of the crude oil. Light and sweet crude oil is considered to be of higher quality.

Use and importance in the market
Crude oil and crude oil are the basis for the majority of fuels and combustibles used in vehicles and for heat generation. The most important applications include
- Heating oil
- diesel
- gasoline
- jet fuel
- Bunker oil

In industrial use, crude oil is used as a lubricant and in the form of bitumen for construction. In addition to energy production, it also plays a role in the chemical industry, particularly in the manufacture of plastics and other chemical products.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the daily production of petroleum products amounted to over 90 million barrels in 2015. The development of new technologies for the extraction and development of oil deposits has led to a significant increase in recoverable quantities, particularly through extraction from Canadian oil sands.

Differentiation from similar terms
- Crude oil: Unprocessed crude oil that is prepared for refining after purification.
- Mineral oil: Refers to products obtained from the processing of crude oil.

Summary
Crude oil is a versatile fossil fuel consisting of several chemical components, mainly hydrocarbons. Crude oil refers to the unprocessed crude oil that is ready for refining after special purification steps. The quality of crude oil varies depending on its origin, although its use in fuels, industrial products and the chemical industry is indispensable. The constant development of oil production technology has significantly increased global production capacities.