How to Learn about Refining

It is challenging to learn without a guide. Refining is no exception. The oil refinery industry is expansive and complex. It’s tough to know where to start. In this brief article, my goal is to give a few ideas about methods for learning about refining without working in the industry.

Read This Book

I first read “Petroleum Refining in Nontechnical Language” as an intern working at the Headquarters of a large refining company. I was amazed at how applicable and practical it was. It quickly enhanced my ability to grasp the basic concepts of refining such as crude oil, intermediates, and products.

It is listed on Amazon for $105…which isn’t my definition of cheap. If you are in college, then it’s likely that your library has a copy.

Wikipedia

The article for oil refineries can be used as a table of contents for your study of the industry. The section on “chemical processes” is especially useful, and contains links to refining technologies such as:

• Crude Oil Distillation

• Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC)

• Coking Units

• Alkylation

• Isomerization

You could spend a lot time exploring any single refinery process. You will find that there are many common concepts. For example, Distillation will help you understand the separation steps required for Alkylation and Isomerization. Your knowledge will compound as you make connections between technologies.

Draw Diagrams

No art degree required. Making a simple block flow diagram forces you to go beyond passively reading and actively engage. Questions will surface as you wonder where the naphtha or kerosene goes. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t know those words yet, Wikipedia is a great reference.

Below is an example of a simplified block flow diagram of a refinery. I don’t recommend simply memorizing the diagram. The intention of this recommendation is to be able to understand and explain to someone else how the refinery works by using a block flow diagram and understanding the components.

I have found drawing diagrams to be an extremely helpful troubleshooting tool throughout my career.

Good Luck!

Unsurprisingly, persistence will be key to learning about such a broad topic. One parting piece of advice I have is to sign up for the “Love the Process” newsletter if you haven’t already. My goal is to provide clear information about refining technology and operations without unnecessary jargon or complex rhetoric. I try to write about a wide range of refining and refining-adjacent topics.