Give us a brief overview of petroleum refining process.

Question

Accepted Answer

Petroleum refining is the process of converting crude oil into useful products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

Crude oil is first heated and then sent to a distillation tower where it is separated into different components based on their boiling points.
The separated components are then further processed through various refining processes such as cracking, reforming, and hydrotreating.
Cracking breaks down heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter ones, while reforming converts low-octane hydrocarbons into high-octane ones.
Hydrotreating removes impurities and sulfur from the refined products to meet environmental regulations.
The final products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants, asphalt, and various petrochemicals.
For example, gasoline is produced by blending different components obtained from the refining process to achieve the desired octane rating.
Refineries also produce by-products like petroleum coke, which is used as a fuel in power plants and cement kilns.

Top Indian Oil Corporation Officer interview questions & answers