Overview
ABSTRACT
Today petroleum covers 32.2% of the world's primary energy demand including those for transport. Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from the transformation of organic matter. Oil and gas is produced through on-shore and offshore wells. The geographical zones of oil production are usually located far from those where the petroleum products are consumed. Petroleum goes by pipeline or tanker ship to refineries, where it is processed into petroleum products (fuels, lubricants, bitumen, etc.) and petrochemical intermediates. The oil industry will be facing new challenges: meeting an increasing demand for energy despite limited petroleum resources, using these resources while limiting GHG emissions, and preparing the energy transition.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Christine TRAVERS: Director, Refining, Petrochemicals and Gas Center IFP School, Rueil Malmaison
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Eric TOCQUÉ: Head of Energy and Processes Program IFP School, Rueil Malmaison France
INTRODUCTION
In 2006, oil covered 34.4% of the planet's primary energy needs, coal 26.0%, natural gas 20.5%, biomass, renewables and waste 10.7%, nuclear 6.2% and hydro 2.2%. In 2014, it still covered 32.2% of needs, while renewable energies are making slow progress. Oil owes its survival to the fact that, in liquid form, it is easy to transport and store. It also has a higher energy output per volume than other energies. Oil is the raw material for refineries and petrochemical complexes. Oil is also used as a fuel for domestic heating and as an energy source for industry. 50% of crude oil is used for transport, which is 98% dependent on oil. Oil's share of the transport sector is tending to increase, while its share of electricity production has been steadily declining over the past thirty years. For these applications, other energies are now favored. These include nuclear power, natural gas and coal. The new renewable energies (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.), despite their interest, represent less than 1% of the energy consumed. Global crude oil production in 2013 stood at 4,030 million tonnes . As a result, oil remains at the forefront of the global energy and economic scene.
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KEYWORDS
transport | exploration | production | refining | petrochemistry | energetical transition
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