LIGHT DISTILLATES
Valued by end customer
Crude oil is of little use in its raw state, it is the refined products which are most valued by the end consumer. In the distillation tower, crude oil is separated into light distillates, middle distillates, heavy distillates and residuum. 1WEC works globally with international refiners, supply chain and transport groups who are responsible for the global supply of light distillates.
Light distillates are refined oil products which are produced following fractional distillation at the top of the distillation tower, above the middle distillates (kerosene, jet fuel, diesel) and heavier products (heavy fuel oil (FO), asphalt, bitumen, lubricating oils and waxes). Light distillates have the lowest boiling points, consist of short hydrocarbon chains, and are flammable substances which can be in either a gaseous or liquid state.
- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)– Used industrially and domestically asone of the most vital alternatives to gasoline, powering millions of vehicles (ignition fuel), refrigerant, chemical feedstock, cooking fuel, centralised heating systems, paper and food processing industries. Ideal fuel for heating and cooking due to its high energy content and ability to burn readily in air.
- Gasoline (also known as petrol)– Primarily used as fuel in internal combustion engines and the most commonly used transport fuel. It is used in cars, trucks, boats, motorbikes , recreational vehicles, small aircraft etc. etc. It can also be used to power motorised equipment such as lawn mowers , chainsaws as well as to power emergency electricity generators.
- Naphtha– Can be used in solvents, as fuel (portable camping stoves, lanterns, cigarette lighters), as feedstock for petrochemical production,provides energy for steam cracking (breaking down hydrocarbon molecules).
- Light distillate products are transported in tankers or cylinders depending on quantity and product.
- Gasoline is not usually transported in large quantities for safety reasons – instead, crude oil is transported to the country of use and is then refined.
- Vehicle owners.
- Transport companies.
- Petrochemical producers.
- Users of motorised equipment (lawn mowers, chainsaws, compressors, electricity generators).
- Hospitality sector (mobile catering vans).
- Paper and food processing industries.
- People who live/work in remote locations not connected to the mains gas.