Petroleum vs. Petrol — What's the Difference?

Subject to international trade and regulation.

A light fuel oil obtained by distilling petroleum, used mainly in internal combustion engines.

A naturally occurring, yellow-to-black liquid found beneath the Earth's surface, used primarily as a fuel source.

The primary fuel for most road vehicles.

A component in the manufacturing of lubricants and greases.

Influenced by global oil prices and local tax policies.

An energy source that can be refined into various fuels, including gasoline and diesel.

A volatile substance that evaporates quickly and can ignite at low temperatures.

A raw material for the petrochemical industry, used to produce plastics and other synthetic materials.

Measured and sold by the liter or gallon at fuel stations.

Petroleum (), also known as crude oil and oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels.

A light fuel oil that is obtained by distilling petroleum and used in internal combustion engines.

A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons which is present in suitable rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including petrol, paraffin, and diesel oil; oil.

A shade of greenish or greyish blue.

A thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the earth's surface, can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, fuel and lubricating oils, paraffin wax, and asphalt and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products.

Gasoline.

A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.

Petroleum, a fluid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, primarily consisting of octane, commonly used as a motor fuel.

Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc.

(informal) A motor vehicle powered by petrol (as opposed to diesel).

A dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons

Petroleum.

A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

Petroleum is extracted through drilling in terrestrial or offshore oil fields, where it is pumped from beneath the earth's surface.

No, petroleum cannot be used directly as fuel; it must first be refined into various products like petrol, diesel, and kerosene.

The primary processes include distillation to separate different hydrocarbons, catalytic reforming to improve quality, and treatments to remove impurities.

When burned, petrol emits carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds.

The volatility of petrol affects how easily it vaporizes to form a combustible mixture in engines, influencing engine efficiency and start-up performance.

Safety measures include storing petrol in well-ventilated areas, using proper containers, avoiding sparks or open flames, and grounding during transfer.

Petrol prices fluctuate due to changes in crude oil prices, supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, and government tax and subsidy policies.

Petrol, as a refined product of petroleum, has a higher energy content per volume because it is made up of lighter, more energy-dense hydrocarbons.

Petroleum serves as the base material for many plastics; it is processed into monomers that can be polymerized into various types of plastics.

Petroleum reserves are estimated through geological and engineering assessments that predict the amount of oil that can be economically extracted.

The extraction of petroleum can lead to environmental degradation, including habitat disruption, oil spills, and water contamination.

Alternatives include electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels, and other synthetic fuels designed to reduce dependence on petrol.

The global oil market affects the economy by influencing energy costs, trade balances, inflation rates, and investment in energy sectors.

Governments regulate these industries through licensing requirements, environmental standards, taxation policies, and monitoring of operations.

Long-term prospects are influenced by global energy demand, technological advancements in renewable energy, and international policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.