ABSTRACT
For the purposes of definition and terminology, it is preferable to subdivide petroleum and related materials into three major classes (Table 1.2):
Materials that are of natural origin 2. Materials that are manufactured
Petroleum Heavy oil Mineral wax Bitumen Bituminous rock Bituminous sand Kerogen Natural gas
Wax Residuum Asphalt Tar Pitch Coke Synthetic crude oil
Derived materials
Oils Resins Asphaltenes Carbenes Carboids
3. Materials that are integral fractions derived from natural or manufactured products
In the context of this chapter, it is pertinent to note that throughout the millennia in which petroleum has been known and used, it is only in the last four decades that some attempts have been made to standardize petroleum nomenclature and terminology. Confusion may still exist. Therefore it is the purpose of this chapter to impart some semblance of order to the disordered state that exists in the segment of petroleum technology that is known as terminology. There is no effort here to define the individual processes, because they will be defined in the relevant chapters. The purpose is to define the various aspects of the feedstocks that are used in a refinery so that the reader can make ready reference to any such word used in the text.
