What is crude oil and how do we turn it into the products we use everyday?

The oil and gas products we take out of the ground get transformed into many useful materials including transportation fuels and plastics. In this video, The Atlantic explores the chemistry of oil and the complex refining processes used to transform barrels of crude into usable products.


ENERGY MATTERS
Top 5 things you should know about oil

Oil is one of the most widely used fossil fuels in the world and is found in thousands of items we encounter every day.

ENERGY MATTERS
Test your energy IQ: which of these products are made from petroleum?

Oil and natural gas provide us with much more than fuel.


Energy Matters

In the world's conversation about energy, one point is beyond debate: Energy makes a vital contribution to people's quality of life, to society and to human progress. This is true today, and it will remain true in the future. That's why Energy Matters was created. We believe it's important to equip people with unbiased information so they may form opinions, join the conversation and feel confidence in the work and accomplishments of the energy sector. Energy Matters is an initiative that provides transparent information and perspective on energy. Here, we'll cover a range of topics: the scale of global energy; the ways energy is sourced and produced; current energy technology; forthcoming innovations; the world's future energy needs; and the sustainable sources of energy that will fill them. Because energy matters to everyone, we hope you'll rely on Energy Matters as an ongoing source of balanced information.