In the days of yore there was no method for refining crude oil. Mr. James young, a Scottish chemist did the yeoman’s service and set a first oil refinery of the world. Since then processing crude oil into handy products is a growing business. An oil refinery enjoys a standing position in the downstream sector of petroleum mills. There are a number of amusing facts regarding processing of crude oil kept under lock and key. A few facts are catalogued below:

FACT 1:

Digiboi is crowned as the very first city of Asia where an oil well was drilled. This is exactly why it is also known as the Assam’s Oil City. The well build back in 1901 is probably one of the oldest oil wells which is still in operation.

FACT 2:

The smallest integrated oil refinery of the world is called C & H Refinery. It is located in Lusk, Wyoming. Zahir Khalid, belonging to Islamabad, Pakistan is the owner of this oil refinery of the West America.

FACT 3:

Asia Pacific holds the honor of locating a number of oil refineries which are currently in the list of world’s largest oil refineries. India, to be more specific, is the holder of world’s largest oil refinery. A number of other countries belonging to Asia Pacific like Venezuela and South Korea come further down the list.

FACT 4:

The world’s largest refinery of oil has a capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day. It is located in Jamnagar and is named after it as well.

FACT 5:

The profit margins which can be enjoyed by the oil refineries are unprecedented. The 22.8 cents profit per gallon of gasoline in 1999 was increased abruptly to about 80%, that is, 40.8 cents per gallon in 2004. According to an estimate, $228 Billion was roughly calculated to be the piled up profit of largest 5 refineries between 2001 and 2005.

FACT 6:

There is an illegal oil refinery called DIY which is officially considered to be one of the most dangerous places to work in. DIY processes oil during the night time when boiled oil is moved from barges to gigantic tanks.

FACT 7:

In the greater portion of the world, the extraction, refining and sale of oil is performed in the same country. It is an important principle to create employment. However, there is an exception to this principle. Sub Saharan Africa has an oil reserve of 132 billion barrels which happens to be greater than 8% of the world’s supply. However, most of this oil has to be exported to the foreign countries for refining which doesn’t enable the economy to boost.

FAT 8:

There are about one hundred chemicals which are released out of oil refineries every day. Tragically, one of them happens to be lead. Lead has a negative impact on the behavioral and learning capabilities of children and can also cause cancer.

FACT 9:

According to the Army’s Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, individuals who are living in a vicinity of an oil refinery for less than 2 years are not prone to develop any disease or disorder because of the exposure to chemicals being released by the refineries. However, long term exposure to such chemicals may cause symptoms of cancer, asthma and other respiratory disorders.

FACT 10:

500 illegal refineries for oil have been established in Nigeria. Such an excess of illegal oil refineries are contributing towards pollution of all possible sorts. It has been estimated that half the population is unable to get clean drinking water. According to another estimation, one out of every five children die before they turn 5 because of the constant exposure to the chemicals being released by the oil refineries.