Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Oil refineries are industrial facilities that process crude oil into various petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. They use complex refining processes to separate and purify different components of crude oil.
Related terms
Crude Oil: Unrefined petroleum extracted from underground reservoirs.
Petrochemicals: Chemical compounds derived from petroleum used in manufacturing plastics, fertilizers, and other products.
Distillation: A refining process that separates different components of crude oil based on their boiling points.