2.4.1 Refineries 



A refinery converts crude oil into useful petroleum products such 

 as gasoline, fuel oil, and residual oil which is used by electric utilities. 

 A refinery uses a series of processing units that separate crude oil by 

 fractionation (distillation), convert it to other more valuable hydrocarbon 

 compounds, treat it to remove undesirable constituents, and then blend 

 basic stocks into more desirable end products. 



Refineries are built in response to availability of crude and 

 demand for refined products (see Figure 38). Since it is easier and 

 less expensive to haul large quantities of crude in one extremely large 

 tanker than to carry refined products in smaller tankers, refineries are 

 usually located as close as possible to the center of demand (market 

 area). 



Figure 38. Refinery, project implementation schedule. 



INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS: 



Site Purchase 



Site Option(s) Taken 



I 



YEARS"'" 



Start of 



Construction 



I 



I 



Begin 

 O Refinery 

 Operations 



Acquisition of Use and 

 Location Permits 



Operating Permits 



Preconstruction Permits 

 (Includes EIS) 



PERMIT ACQUISITIONS: 



180 



