Raakaöljyt

Raakaöljyt is the Finnish term for crude oil, the unprocessed petroleum that is extracted from underground reservoirs and serves as the primary feedstock for the global fuels and chemicals industry. Crude oil is composed of hydrocarbons of varying chain lengths, together with sulfur, nitrogen, metals such as nickel and vanadium, and trace amounts of water and salts. Because of these heterogeneous compositions, bulk crude is classified according to its density, referred to as API gravity, and its sulfur content, which ranges from sweet (low sulfur) to sour (high sulfur) grades.

The extraction of crude oil begins with exploratory drilling, often aided by seismic surveys, followed by the installation of wellheads and production facilities. Once pumped to the surface, the crude may be transported by pipelines, tanker ships, or rail to a refinery, where it undergoes distillation, cracking, hydroprocessing and other refining steps. Refining transforms smaller hydrocarbon molecules into marketable products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants, heating oil, as well as petrochemical feedstocks for plastics, fertilizers and chemicals.

The global demand for crude oil is driven primarily by transportation and energy sectors. However, the oil sector faces scrutiny because refining processes emit greenhouse gases, and oil spills can damage marine and coastal ecosystems. Accordingly, several countries have implemented policies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, promote energy efficiency, and expand renewable energies, while continuing to invest in cleaner refining technologies and carbon capture and storage.