In a conventional refinery, crude oil is transformed and refined into higher-value products like gasoline, diesel, kerosene, heating oil and LPG. Also, feedstock for the petrochemical industry like naphtha is produced in the refinery. The production of the different components can be split into three general processes:
- Fractionation process – the distillation of the crude into the different components in the distillation columns
- Conversion process – the dividing, unification and alteration of the hydrocarbons in the cracking, alkylation and reforming units
- Treatment process – to remove impurities and undesirable contaminants