A liquid hydrocarbon produced from natural underground reservoirs. Volatile liquid bitumen composed principally of hydrocarbon, with traces of sulfur, nitrogen, or oxygen compounds. It might also include liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, gilsonite, and oil shale. Crude oil can be refined into a number of petroleum products which include: heating oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, lubricants, asphalt, ethane, propane, butane, and many other products.
Related terms: