| Key Terms |
Definition |
| All Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components |
Naphthas (e.g. straight-run gasoline, alkylate, reformate, benzene, toluene, xylene) used for
blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline. Includes receipts and inputs of Gasoline
Treated as Blendstock (GTAB). Excludes conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending (CBOB),
reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending, oxygenates (e.g. fuel ethanol and methyl
tertiary butyl ether), butane, and pentanes plus.
|
| Asphalt |
A dark-brown-to-black cement-like material containing bitumens as the predominant constituent
obtained by petroleum processing; used primarily for road construction. It includes crude
asphalt as well as the following finished products: cements, fluxes, the asphalt content of
emulsions (exclusive of water), and petroleum distillates blended with asphalt to make
cutback asphalts. Note: The conversion factor for asphalt is 5.5 barrels per short ton.
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| Barrel |
A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons.
|
| Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (CBOB) |
Motor gasoline blending components intended for blending with oxygenates to produce finished conventional
motor gasoline.
|
| Conventional Gasoline |
Finished motor gasoline not included in the oxygenated or reformulated gasoline categories.
Excludes reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending (RBOB)
as well as other blendstock.
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| Conventional Gasoline, Ed 55 and Lower |
Finished conventional motor gasoline blended with a maximum of 55 volume percent denatured fuel ethanol.
|
| Conventional Gasoline, Greater than Ed 55 |
Finished conventional motor gasoline blended with denatured fuel ethanol where the volume percent of denatured fuel ethanol exceeds 55%.
|
| Crude Oil |
A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground
reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through
surface separating facilities. Depending upon the characteristics of the crude
stream, it may also include:
Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural
underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being
recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators and are subsequently
commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease
condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field
separation facilities and later mixed into the crude stream is also included;
Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced with the oil, such as sulfur and
various metals;
Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, oil sands,
gilsonite, and oil shale.
Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce
a wide array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels;
lubricants; asphalt; ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their
energy or chemical content.
|
| Distillate Fuel Oil |
A general classification for one of the petroleum fractions produced in conventional
distillation operations. It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils. Products known as No. 1,
No. 2, and No. 4 diesel fuel are used in on-highway diesel engines, such as those in trucks
and automobiles, as well as off-highway engines, such as those in railroad locomotives and
agricultural machinery. Products known as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 fuel oils are used primarily
for space heating and electric power generation.
|
| Finished Motor Gasoline |
A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of
additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for use in spark-ignition engines. Motor gasoline,
as defined in ASTM Specification D 4814 or Federal Specification VV-G-1690C, is characterized
as having a boiling range of 122 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10 percent recovery point to
365 to 374 degrees Fahrenheit at the 90 percent recovery point. Motor Gasoline includes
conventional gasoline; all types of oxygenated gasoline, including gasohol; and
reformulated gasoline, but excludes aviation gasoline. Note: Volumetric data on blending
components, such as oxygenates, are not counted in data on finished motor gasoline until
the blending components are blended into the gasoline. |
| Fuel Ethanol |
An anhydrous denatured aliphatic alcohol intended for gasoline blending as
described in Oxygenates definition.
|
| Gasoline Treated as Blendstock (GTAB) |
Non-certified Foreign Refinery gasoline classified by an importer as blendstock to be either blended or reclassified with respect to reformulated or conventional gasoline. GTAB was classified on EIA surveys as either reformulated or conventional based on emissions performance and the intended end use in data through the end of December 2009. Designation of GTAB as reformulated or conventional was discontinued beginning with data for January 2010. GTAB was reported as a single product beginning with data for January 2010. GTAB data for January 2010 and later months is presented as conventional motor gasoline blending components whenreported as a subset of motor gasoline blending components. |
| Kerosene |
A light petroleum distillate that is used in space heaters, cook stoves, and water heaters
and is suitable for use as a light source when burned in wick-fed lamps. Kerosene has a
maximum distillation temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10-percent recovery point,
a final boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit, and a minimum flash point of 100 degrees
Fahrenheit. Included are No. 1-K and No. 2-K, the two grades recognized by ASTM Specification
D 3699 as well as all other grades of kerosene called range or stove oil, which have properties
similar to those of No. 1 fuel oil. See Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel.
|
| Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel |
A kerosene-based product having a maximum distillation temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit
at the 10-percent recovery point and a final maximum boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit
and meeting ASTM Specification D 1655 and Military Specifications MIL-T-5624P and MIL-T-83133D
(Grades JP-5 and JP-8). It is used for commercial and military turbojet and turboprop aircraft
engines.
Commercial - Kerosene-type jet fuel intended for use in commercial aircraft.
Military - Kerosene-type jet fuel intended for use in military aircraft.
|
| Liquefied Refinery Gases (LRGs) |
Liquefied petroleum gases fractionated from refinery or still gases. Through compression
and/or refrigeration, they are retained in the liquid state. The reported categories are
ethane/ethylene, propane/propylene, normal butane/butylene, and isobutane/isobutylene.
Excludes still gas.
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| Motor Gasoline Blending |
Mechanical mixing of motor gasoline blending components, and oxygenates when required, to
produce finished motor gasoline. Finished motor gasoline may be further mixed with other
motor gasoline blending components or oxygenates, resulting in increased volumes of
finished motor gasoline and/or changes in the formulation of finished motor gasoline
(e.g., conventional motor gasoline mixed with MTBE to produce oxygenated motor gasoline).
|
| Motor Gasoline Blending Components |
Naphthas (e.g., straight-run gasoline, alkylate, reformate, benzene, toluene, xylene) used for
blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline. These components include reformulated
gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending (RBOB) but exclude oxygenates (alcohols, ethers),
butane, and pentanes plus. Note: Oxygenates are reported as individual components and are
included in the total for other hydrocarbons, hydrogens, and oxygenates.
|
| Natural Gas Plant Liquids (NGPLs) |
Those hydrocarbons in natural gas that are separated as liquids at natural gas processing
plants, fractionating and cycling plants, and, in some instances, field facilities.
Lease condensate is excluded. Products obtained include ethane; liquefied petroleum
gases (propane, butanes, propane-butane mixtures, ethane-propane mixtures); isopentane;
and other small quantities of finished products, such as motor gasoline, special naphthas,
jet fuel, kerosene, and distillate fuel oil.
|
| OPRG |
"Oxygenated Fuels Program Reformulated Gasoline" is reformulated gasoline which is intended
for use in an oxygenated fuels program control area.
|
| Other Oils |
Includes aviation gasoline, kerosene, natural gas plant liquids and LRGs (except propane/propylene), unfinished oils, other hydrocarbons and oxygenates (except fuel ethanol), aviation gasoline blending components, naphtha and other oils for petrochemical feedstock use, special naphthas, lube oils, waxes, coke, asphalt, road oil, and miscellaneous oils. Includes naphtha-type jet fuel beginning in 2004. Propane/propylene was included with other oils prior to 2004. Ethanol was included with other oils prior to June 4, 2010. Other oils stocks includes unfinished oils beginning on June 4, 2010. |
| Oxygenated Gasoline (Including Gasahol) |
Oxygenated gasoline includes all finished motor gasoline, other than reformulated gasoline,
having oxygen content of 2.0 percent or higher by weight. Gasohol containing a minimum
5.7 percent ethanol by volume is included in oxygenated gasoline. Oxygenated gasoline was
reported as a separate product from January 1993 until December 2003 inclusive. Beginning
with monthly data for January 2004, oxygenated gasoline is included in conventional gasoline.
Historical data for oxygenated gasoline excluded Federal Oxygenated Program Reformulated Gasoline
(OPRG). Historical oxygenated gasoline data also excluded other reformulated gasoline with a
seasonal oxygen requirement regardless of season.
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| Petroleum Administration for Defense (PAD) Districts |
Geographic aggregations of the 50 States and the District of Columbia into five districts
by the Petroleum Administration for Defense in 1950. These districts were originally defined
during World War II for purposes of administering oil allocation.
Description and maps of PAD Districts and Refining Districts.
|
| Petroleum Products |
Petroleum products are obtained from the processing of crude oil (including lease condensate),
natural gas, and other hydrocarbon compounds. Petroleum products include unfinished oils,
liquefied petroleum gases, pentanes plus, aviation gasoline, motor gasoline, naphtha-type jet
fuel, kerosene-type jet fuel, kerosene, distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, petrochemical
feedstocks, special naphthas, lubricants, waxes, petroleum coke, asphalt, road oil, still gas,
and miscellaneous products.
|
| Ppm |
Parts per million.
|
| Propane (C3H8) |
A normally gaseous straight-chain hydrocarbon. It is a colorless paraffinic gas that boils
at a temperature of - 43.67 degrees Fahrenheit. It is extracted from natural gas or refinery
gas streams. It includes all products designated in ASTM Specification D1835 and Gas Processors
Association Specifications for commercial propane and HD-5 propane.
|
| Propylene (C3H6) |
An olefinic hydrocarbon recovered from refinery processes or petrochemical processes.
|
| Propylene (C3H6) (nonfuel use) |
Propylene intended for use in nonfuel applications such as petrochemical manufacturing.
Nonfuel propylene includes chemical-grade propylene, polymer-grade propylene, and trace
amounts of propane. Nonfuel propylene also includes the propylene component of
propane/propylene mixes where the propylene will be separated from the mix in a propane/propylene
splitting process. Nonfuel propylene excludes the propylene component of propane/propylene mixes where
the propylene component of the mix is intended for use as fuel.
|
| RBOB for Blending with Alcohol |
Motor gasoline blending components intended to be blended with an alcohol component (e.g., fuel ethanol) at a terminal or refinery to raise the oxygen content. RBOB product detail by type of oxygenate was discontinued effective with data for January 2010. Beginning with data for January 2010, RBOB was reported as a single product.
|
| RBOB for Blending with Ether |
Motor gasoline blending components intended to be blended with an ether component (e.g., methyl tertiary butyl ether) at a terminal or refinery to raise the oxygen content. RBOB product detail by type of oxygenate was discontinued effective with data for January 2010. Beginning with data for January 2010, RBOB was reported as a single product.
|
| Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) |
Finished gasoline formulated for use in motor vehicles, the
composition and properties of which meet the requirements of the reformulated gasoline
regulations promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 211(k)
of the Clean Air Act. It includes gasoline produced to meet or exceed emissions performance
and benzene content standards of federal-program reformulated gasoline even though the gasoline
may not meet all of the composition requirements (e.g. oxygen content) of federal-program
reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline excludes Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate
Blending (RBOB) and Gasoline Treated as Blendstock (GTAB). Historical reformulated gasoline
statistics included Oxygenated Fuels Program Reformulated Gasoline (OPRG).
|
| Reformulated Blendstock for Oxgenate Blending (RBOB) |
Motor gasoline blending components intended for blending with oxygenates to produce finished reformulated
motor gasoline.
|
| Residual Fuel Oil |
A general classification for the heavier oils, known as No. 5 and No. 6 fuel oils, that remain
after the distillate fuel oils and lighter hydrocarbons are distilled away in refinery operations.
It conforms to ASTM Specifications D396 and D975 and Federal Specification VV-F-815C.
No. 5, a residual fuel oil of medium viscosity, is also known as Navy Special and is defined in
Military Specification MIL-F-859E, including Amendment 2 (NATO Symbol F-770). It is used in
steam-powered vessels in government service and inshore powerplants. No. 6 fuel oil includes
Bunker C fuel oil and is used for the production of electric power, space heating, vessel
bunkering, and various industrial purposes.
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| Road Oil |
Any heavy petroleum oil, including residual asphaltic oil used as a dust pallative and surface
treatment on roads and highways. It is generally produced in six grades from 0, the most liquid,
to 5, the most viscous.
|
| Stocks |
Inventories of fuel stored for future use. Stocks are reported as of the last day of the period
(e.g., week or month).
|
| Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) |
Petroleum stocks maintained by the Federal Government for use during periods of major supply
interruption.
|
| Sulfur |
A yellowish nonmetallic element, sometimes known as "brimstone." It is present at various
levels of concentration in many fossil fuels.
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| Total Motor Gasoline |
Includes finished motor gasoline and motor gasoline blending components.
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| Unfinished Oils |
All oils requiring further processing, except those requiring only mechanical blending.
Unfinished oils are produced by partial refining of crude oil and include naphthas and
lighter oils, kerosene and light gas oils, heavy gas oils, and residuum.
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Definitions