How Petroleum is Formed? How Petrol and Diesel are Made?

Summary

This video explains the process of offshore petroleum extraction and refinement. It starts with how crude oil forms deep under the Earth's surface and how geologists locate it using seismic surveys. The video details the complex drilling process, which involves drill rigs and subsea drilling templates to extract oil and natural gas from beneath the ocean. Once extracted, the mixture of crude oil, gas, water, and sediments is separated, transported to refineries, and processed into fuels like gasoline. The video also highlights the challenges and technology involved in offshore oil production.

Takeaways

• 🛢️ Petroleum, including substances like petrol, diesel, and kerosene, is separated from crude oil.
• 🌍 Petroleum is formed over eons from the remains of ancient plants and animals buried under sand, mud, and rock.
• ⚙️ Offshore drilling accounts for around 30% of global oil production and half of the world’s natural gas production.
• 🌊 Offshore oil rigs can be moved and often float, drilling as far as 200 miles from shore and in depths over 7,500 feet.
• 🔍 Geologists use seismic surveys to find suitable oil reservoir locations before drilling begins.
• 🛠️ The drilling process involves a large drill string made of connected nine-meter pipes that grind deep into the earth's crust.
• ⛏️ After drilling, the production casing is installed and explosives are used to crack it, allowing controlled flow of oil and gas.
• 🚢 The extracted mixture of crude oil, natural gas, water, and sediments is either processed offshore or transported to refineries.
• 🏭 Refining crude oil involves distilling it in towers to separate different hydrocarbons based on their boiling points.
• 🚚 The final products, like gasoline and diesel, are transported to storage tanks and distributed via pipelines, trains, and trucks.

Q & A

What is petroleum, and how is it formed?

Petroleum is a substance formed beneath the surface of the Earth over eons. It originates from the remains of ancient plants and animals that have been buried and compressed beneath layers of sand, mud, and rock. Under pressure and heat, these organic materials transform into hydrocarbon compounds like crude oil and natural gas.

What percentage of the world's oil and natural gas production comes from offshore sources?

Offshore oil production accounts for about 30% of the world's total oil production, while offshore natural gas production contributes to about 50% of global natural gas production.

What is the primary challenge in finding petroleum beneath the sea?

The primary challenge is locating oil reservoirs, as petroleum is not found everywhere. Geologists and geophysicists use seismic surveys to identify geological structures that might contain oil, a process that requires significant effort and investment.

How is the drill rig brought to the location of offshore drilling?

Once the location is confirmed, the drill rig is brought to the site. Many of these rigs are movable, capable of floating while being transported or even while drilling. Offshore rigs can operate in waters over 7,500 feet deep and as far as 200 miles from shore.

How long is the lifespan of an offshore drilling rig?

The typical lifespan of an offshore drilling rig is around 20 years. After that, unless it is reused or redeveloped, it must be decommissioned.

What is the purpose of the subsea drilling template?

The subsea drilling template is a large metal box with holes that guides the drilling process. It marks the site of each production well, helping to control the drilling operation and preventing water from flowing into the well or oil from surging into the ocean.

What happens after the drilling process is completed?

After the well is drilled, the production casing is installed. This casing ends in a cap that controls the flow of petroleum into the well. Explosives are used to crack the casing at various depths, allowing oil and gas to enter the well in a controlled manner and move to the surface.

How is the crude oil mixture treated after being brought to the surface?

The liquid brought to the platform is a mixture of crude oil, natural gas, water, and sediments. Some platforms have facilities to separate this mixture, but most of the refining occurs onshore after the oil is transported via undersea pipelines or oil tankers.

How does the refining process separate crude oil into useful products?

The refining process involves heating crude oil in a distillation tower. Different components of crude oil have varying boiling points, so as the oil is heated, vapors rise to different levels of the tower and condense into liquids. These are collected on trays at different heights and refined further.

What is the final step in producing gasoline from crude oil?

The final step involves combining various processed streams to create gasoline. Refinery technicians consider factors like octane levels and vapor pressure ratings to determine the final gasoline blend. After this, the gasoline is stored in large tanks before being distributed via pipelines, trains, or trucks.