What is crude oil used for?

Crude oil is refined into a variety of petroleum products that are used, like gasoline and heating oil, according to the University of Delaware Sea Grant Program. The refining process results in three major grades of consumer oil.

According to the University of Delaware Sea Grant Program, the largest use for crude oil is in the refining of gasoline, consuming about 50 percent of available crude oil. The creation of diesel and jet fuels, as well as kerosene and heating oils, consumes another 40 percent of crude oil production. The final 10 percent of the crude oil found is used for residual fuel oil.