Petróleos

Petróleos is the plural form of petróleo in Spanish and is commonly used to refer to petroleum or crude oil, a naturally occurring liquid fossil fuel. It is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, with small amounts of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, metals and other impurities. Crude oil forms over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals and is found in porous rocks within sedimentary basins. It is extracted by drilling and then transported to refineries where it is processed into fuels and other products. Refining involves distillation and conversion processes such as cracking, reforming, hydrocracking and alkylation to yield gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants, naphtha and petrochemical feedstocks, as well as asphalt.

The petroleum sector is a major part of the global energy system and economy. Production and reserves are geographically concentrated and affected by technology, prices, and policy. Large national and multinational companies operate in exploration, production, transportation and refining. In the Spanish-speaking world, the term appears in the official names of several state firms, for example Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).

Environmental and social concerns accompany petroleum use, including greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and spill risks. These issues intersect with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and transition toward cleaner energy sources and alternative feedstocks.