701-01 - Introduction to Petroleum Refining

Learning objectives
- Explain what is meant by crude oil
- Describe the purpose of crude oil desalting, atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation, catalytic reforming, cracking, alkylation, isomerization and polymerization
- Discuss refinery treating processes
- Identify the function of a gas plant
- Explain the importance of refinery blending operations
- List substances often stored in the refinery tank farm
Course overview
Crude oil is of little use in its raw state. A petroleum refinery employs a series of processing steps to refine it into a variety of useful products. The refinery separates and converts the raw materials in crude oil into products such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oils, lubricating oils, and asphalt.
The Introduction to Petroleum Refining training course identifies and briefly describes various refining processes that take place in a typical petroleum refinery. This online training course covers:
- Crude oil basics
- Desalting, distilling, and reforming
- Cracking processes
- Alkylation, isomerization, and polymerization
- Treating, purifying, blending, and storing
Introduction to Petroleum Refining is part of the Petroleum Refining training series.
The individuals involved in the development and promotion of this course do not receive any compensation or financial benefits outside of their regular employment for their work on this course.
- 40 minutes
- Format: Online Interactive
- English