How We Use Petroleum
Products Every Day
Products Every Day
The petroleum extracted from the earth touches our lives in
ways most of us can only imagine. This natural resource keeps our
economic engine running, provides the foundation for products
that make our lives easier, and allows us to live longer, quality lives.
In addition to fueling our cars, heating our homes, and cooking
our foods, did you know that petroleum products are the basis for
the heart valve replacements that may someday save our lives, the
DVDs we watch our favorite movies on, and even the shampoos
we use to wash our hair?
These petroleum products—primarily oil and natural gas—supply
65 percent of our nation’s energy as well as help generate the
electricity that powers our daily lives.
ways most of us can only imagine. This natural resource keeps our
economic engine running, provides the foundation for products
that make our lives easier, and allows us to live longer, quality lives.
In addition to fueling our cars, heating our homes, and cooking
our foods, did you know that petroleum products are the basis for
the heart valve replacements that may someday save our lives, the
DVDs we watch our favorite movies on, and even the shampoos
we use to wash our hair?
These petroleum products—primarily oil and natural gas—supply
65 percent of our nation’s energy as well as help generate the
electricity that powers our daily lives.
The United States is the third-largest oil producing country in
the world, with more than five hundred thousand producing wells
and approximately four thousand oil and natural gas platforms
operating in U.S. waters. Canada is the world’s third-largest producer
of natural gas and seventh-largest producer of crude oil.
Combined, the two countries produce about seven million barrels
of crude oil a day.
The United States also is one of the largest consumers of petroleum
products, though there is growing demand coming from
emerging economies such as China and India. In the United States
alone, about twenty million barrels are used each day—about three
gallons per person—according to the American Petroleum Institute
(API). The API is a national trade association that represents
all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry, and there is a
wealth of information on its website at www.api.org and related
sites at www.energytomorrow.org, www.adventuresinenergy.org,
and www.classroom-energy.org.
Oil provides about 40 percent of the energy Americans consume
and 97 percent of our transportation fuels. Natural gas provides 25
percent of our energy needs. Oil and natural gas are found all over
the world in varying concentrations. The United States imports
approximately 60 percent of its oil, with the majority coming from
Canada and Mexico, while 84 percent of our natural gas is domestically
produced.
The Energy Information Agency, the U.S. government’s independent
statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department
of Energy (www.eia.doe.gov), projects that the demand for
energy will grow at an average annual rate of 1.1 percent. Natural
gas demand is expected to continue to increase to thirty trillion
cubic feet (Tcf ) by the year 2020.
the world, with more than five hundred thousand producing wells
and approximately four thousand oil and natural gas platforms
operating in U.S. waters. Canada is the world’s third-largest producer
of natural gas and seventh-largest producer of crude oil.
Combined, the two countries produce about seven million barrels
of crude oil a day.
The United States also is one of the largest consumers of petroleum
products, though there is growing demand coming from
emerging economies such as China and India. In the United States
alone, about twenty million barrels are used each day—about three
gallons per person—according to the American Petroleum Institute
(API). The API is a national trade association that represents
all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry, and there is a
wealth of information on its website at www.api.org and related
sites at www.energytomorrow.org, www.adventuresinenergy.org,
and www.classroom-energy.org.
Oil provides about 40 percent of the energy Americans consume
and 97 percent of our transportation fuels. Natural gas provides 25
percent of our energy needs. Oil and natural gas are found all over
the world in varying concentrations. The United States imports
approximately 60 percent of its oil, with the majority coming from
Canada and Mexico, while 84 percent of our natural gas is domestically
produced.
The Energy Information Agency, the U.S. government’s independent
statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department
of Energy (www.eia.doe.gov), projects that the demand for
energy will grow at an average annual rate of 1.1 percent. Natural
gas demand is expected to continue to increase to thirty trillion
cubic feet (Tcf ) by the year 2020.
With the demand for petroleum increasing, the good news is
that there is an abundance of domestic oil and gas resources in the
United States. The latest estimates reveal that there are more than
131 billion barrels of oil and more than a thousand Tcf of natural
gas remaining to be discovered in the United States.
The amount here is enough oil to power 55 million cars for 30
years and heat 24 million homes for 30 years. And there is enough
natural gas to heat 60 million homes that use natural gas for 120
years.
that there is an abundance of domestic oil and gas resources in the
United States. The latest estimates reveal that there are more than
131 billion barrels of oil and more than a thousand Tcf of natural
gas remaining to be discovered in the United States.
The amount here is enough oil to power 55 million cars for 30
years and heat 24 million homes for 30 years. And there is enough
natural gas to heat 60 million homes that use natural gas for 120
years.