Crude oil and other liquids produced from fossil fuels are refined into the petroleum products that we use for many different purposes. Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are also used as petroleum products, mainly in mixtures with petroleum.
Did You Know?
Over 2/3 of total U.S. petroleum consumption is for transportation, and almost 2/3 of transportation sector petroleum consumption is gasoline.
The United States consumes more energy from petroleum than from any other energy source. In 2010 total U.S. petroleum consumption was 19.2 million barrels per day, or 37% of all the energy we consumed.
When petroleum products are burned to produce energy, they may be used to propel a vehicle, to heat a building, or to produce electric power in a generator.
In addition, petroleum may be used as a raw material (a "feedstock") to create products such as plastics, polyurethane, solvents, asphalt, and hundreds of other intermediate and end-user goods.
What Are the Main Petroleum Products We Consume?
In 2007, gasoline consumption reached a record high of 9.3 million barrels a day (or 391 million gallons per day), before declining to about 9.0 million barrels per day in 2010. About 10% of the gasoline consumed in 2010 was actually ethanol mixed with gasoline.
| Product | Annual Consumption (Million barrels per day) |
|---|---|
| Finished Motor Gasoline | 8.993 |
| Distillate Fuel Oil (Diesel Fuel and Heating Oil) | 3.800 |
| Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) | 2.173 |
| Kero-Type Jet Fuel | 1.432 |
| Petroleum Coke | 0.376 |
| Still Gas | 0.672 |
| Residual Fuel Oil | 0.535 |
| Asphalt and Road Oil | 0.362 |
| Other Oils for Feedstocks | 0.213 |
| Naptha for Feedstocks | 0.256 |
| Lubricants | 0.131 |
| Miscellaneous Products | 0.075 |
| Kerosene | 0.020 |
| Special Napthas | 0.014 |
| Finished Aviation Gasoline | 0.015 |
| Waxes | 0.008 |
| Total Petroleum Products | 19.180 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Annual, Vol. 1, 2010, Table 2.
Distillate fuel oil includes diesel fuel and heating oil. Diesel fuel is used in the diesel engines of heavy construction equipment, trucks, buses, tractors, boats, trains, and some automobiles. It accounts for about one-fifth of total transportation fuel consumption and about 17% of total petroleum consumption in 2010. Heating or fuel oil is used to heat homes and buildings, for industrial heating, and for producing electricity. Total distillate fuel oil consumption in 2010 was 3.8 million barrels per day, or 20% of total petroleum consumption.
Liquefied petroleum gases (LP-gases or LPGs) are mixtures of propane, ethane, butane, and other gases that are produced at natural gas processing plants and oil refineries. LPG consumption in 2010 was 2.2 million barrels per day.
Propane, the major LPG consumed, is used in homes for space and water heating, clothes drying, cooking, and by farmers for heating greenhouses and livestock housing and drying crops. The chemical industry uses about half of all the propane consumed in the United States as a raw material for making plastics, nylon, and other materials. While only a small fraction of propane is used in vehicles, it is the largest alternative transportation fuel in use today.
Jet fuel, like gasoline, is nearly all used for transportation. Jet fuel consumption in 2010 was 1.4 million barrels per day.
Top Five Gasoline Consuming States, 2010
| State | Million Barrels/Day | Million Gallons/Day | Share of Total U.S. Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 0.98 | 41 | 11% |
| Texas | 0.88 | 37 | 10% |
| Florida | 0.50 | 21 | 6% |
| New York | 0.36 | 15 | 4% |
| Pennsylvania | 0.31 | 13 | 4% |
How Much Petroleum Does the World Consume?
Worldwide consumption of petroleum was 85.3 million barrels per day in 2010. The three largest consuming countries were:
- United States (19.2 million barrels per day)
- China (8.4 million barrels per day)
- Japan (4.4 million barrels per day)
What Is the Outlook for U.S. Petroleum Consumption?
EIA projects that most petroleum-based and non-petroleum based liquid fuels — including those derived from fuels such as coal, biomass, and natural gas — will continue to be used for transportation over the next two decades.
1990-2035 (Million Barrels Per Day)
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2011, Figure 93 (April 2011).
Projections to 2035 show consumption of petroleum-based motor gasoline declining while biofuel consumption grows with government mandates. Diesel fuel consumption expands as more light-duty diesel vehicles are produced by automotive manufacturers seeking to comply with new fuel economy standards. Diesel fuel use for freight trucks also increases as industrial output expands.
In the other sectors (industry, buildings, and electricity generation) liquid fuels consumption is projected to decline slightly through 2035.