Course Trailer
About this Course
📚 This Complete Guide to Petroleum Refining explores the key processes that transform crude oil into valuable fuels and chemicals. You will gain in-depth knowledge of modern refining technologies and how they are applied to produce a wide range of products used in industries worldwide.
You will study processes such as:
- Distillation (Atmospheric and Vacuum)
- Cracking (Catalytic, Thermal, and Hydrocracking)
- Reforming (Catalytic Reforming, Hydroprocessing)
- Hydrotreating and Desulfurization
- Alkylation and Polymerization
- Blending of Fuels and Products
👨🏫 Designed for
Process engineers, refinery operators, students, and professionals interested in understanding the full scope of petroleum refining processes, from crude oil to finished products.
📚 Course Approach
A comprehensive and structured learning experience, combining theory with practical examples, case studies, and insights into real-world applications.
🎯 By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Understand the key refining processes and their role in the production of fuels and chemicals
- Identify the main products derived from crude oil and their industrial uses
- Model and optimize refinery processes for better efficiency and product quality
- Troubleshoot common challenges in refinery operations
- Implement sustainable practices in petroleum refining
🚀 Recommended for
Anyone involved in the petroleum industry, from students learning about refining to professionals in process design, optimization, or operation of refineries.
✅ You’ll learn to:
- Define and understand each refining process and its applications
- Simulate distillation and other separation techniques in process simulators
- Apply knowledge of catalytic processes like cracking and reforming
- Understand product yield and quality optimization
- Design fuel blending strategies to meet product specifications
- Evaluate refinery performance and sustainability challenges
Self-Paced, Dynamic Lectures
Learn at your own pace, anytime and anywhere.
The lectures are concise, engaging, and focused—designed to maximize your understanding efficiently.
Downloadable Material
Get access to all simulation files, workshop materials, spreadsheets, reference guides and companion E-Book.
Use them to practice offline, follow along with lessons, or revisit concepts anytime.
Evaluations, Quizzes
Evaluate your progress through interactive quizzes and self-assessments.
Reinforce key concepts, identify gaps, and ensure you're ready to apply what you've learned in real scenarios.
30 Day Money-Back Warranty
Enroll with confidence—if the course doesn’t meet your expectations, you can request a full refund within 30 days.
No questions asked.
Certificate of Completion
Receive an official certificate or diploma once you finish the course—perfect for showcasing your new skills on your resume, LinkedIn, or job applications.
Instructor Support
Get guidance whenever you need it—ask questions, request feedback, and interact directly with the instructor throughout the course.
Curriculum
- Industry Insight - Section Overview (2:31)
- What is Crude Oil? (2:48)
- Task - Crude Oil vs. Refined Crude Oil (1:59)
- What is Petroleum Refining? (11:32)
- Check this Report!
- Industry Facts & Trends (4:38)
- Energy Consumption of Fuels by Region (5:02)
- World Oil Reserves by Country (6:26)
- Oil Production WorldWide (4:32)
- Task - Verify Production from 1980 to 2018 (0:58)
- Consumption of Oil Worldwide (5:20)
- Oil Barrel Prices (7:31)
- Petroleum Trading Routes Worlwide (3:40)
- Process Preview (2:32)
- Common Processes in Petroleum Refining (5:23)
- Petroleum Refining Process Diagrams (8:11)
- Task - Check out this Refinery Animation (1:10)
- Petroleum Refinery - An Overview (1:26)
- Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) (3:54)
- Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU) (2:11)
- Thermal Cracker (TC) (2:04)
- Hydrotreaters / Hydrodesulfurization Units (HT/HDS) (7:25)
- Fluidized Catalyst Cracker (FCC) (6:58)
- Separators (Debutanizer, Depropanizer, Dethaniser, etc..) (5:35)
- Naphtha Splitter (NS) (1:50)
- Splitters (SP) (2:06)
- Catalytic Reformer (CR) (3:01)
- N-Butane Isomerization (ISO) (2:44)
- Alkylation Unit (ALK) (2:55)
- Gas Treating Units (GT) (2:10)
- Blending Pools (P) (4:10)
- Keep it up! You can do it! (1:50)
- Overview to Crude Oils (2:27)
- Crude Oils! (8:45)
- Hydrocarbons: Paraffins, Olefins, Napthenes & Aromatics (3:12)
- Paraffins (3:29)
- Olefins (4:00)
- Naphthenes (3:00)
- Aromatics (2:18)
- Asphaletenes (5:21)
- Resins (1:50)
- Hydrocarbon Types (PONNAA) a Summary (0:37)
- Sulfur Content in Crude Oil (4:03)
- Oxygen Compounds in Crude oil (1:39)
- Nitrogen Content in Crude Oils (2:29)
- Salt Content in Crude Oil (2:08)
- Metal Content in Crude Oil (1:33)
- Characterization of Crude Oils (2:13)
- API Gravity (4:28)
- Viscosity (3:51)
- True Boiling Point Distillation Curves (ASTM Curves) (6:17)
- Flash and Fire Points (2:09)
- Cloud & Pour Point (2:18)
- Correlation Index for Crude Oils (2:01)
- Watson Characterization Factor (2:15)
- Crude Oils Around the World (2:55)
- West Texas Intermediate (WTI) (3:23)
- Task - Crude Oil Stats (1:33)
- New Lecture
- Products from a Refinery - Section Overview (2:54)
- Introduction to the Petroleum Refinery Products (6:11)
- Crude Oil Cuts & Distillates (3:44)
- Product Specification (1:34)
- Sulfur Content in Fuels (3:46)
- Lead in Fuels (2:51)
- Fuel Oxygenates (3:20)
- Gasoline Oxygenates: MTBE (4:54)
- Engine Knock (3:33)
- Task - Engine Knock (0:24)
- Antiknock Index (AKI) (1:55)
- Octane Rating (3:24)
- Octane Number (Research and Motor Numebrs RON&MON) (6:26)
- Cetane Index (5:36)
- Smoke point (for Jet fuel) (2:54)
- Task - Smoke Point Test (0:34)
- Blended Products (0:17)
- Task - Verify Products (0:58)
- LNG & LPG (Liquefied Natural/Petroleum Gases) (4:11)
- Naphtha (11:05)
- Gasoline (8:37)
- Gasoline Additives (4:10)
- Typical Gasoline Specification (5:40)
- Kerosene (1:38)
- Aviation Fuels (2:53)
- Aviation Fuels Additives (2:01)
- Task - Check out a Diesel Engine vs. a Gasoline Engine (0:46)
- Diesel Fuels (5:58)
- Diesel Additives (2:40)
- Sediments in Fuels (4:23)
- Fuel Oil (8:02)
- Task - Bunker Fuels (0:51)
- Lubes (Lubricant Material) (3:56)
- Task - Verify Lubes & Oils (0:48)
- Asphalt (4:01)
- Asphalt Specification (1:25)
- Task - Asphalt Penetration Test (0:15)
- Coke (Petroleum Coke) (2:13)
- CDU & VDU - Overview (1:53)
- Introduction to Crude Oil Distillation (6:44)
- Pre-treatment Of Crude Oils (3:54)
- Crude Desalting (7:43)
- Furnace & Pre-Flashing (8:25)
- Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) (4:37)
- Crude Distillation Units (CDU) - Overview (12:01)
- Fractionation and Cuts (Overlap & Gaps) (4:48)
- CDU - Pressure & Temperatures (2:47)
- CDU - Flow Rate & Capacity (4:07)
- CDU - Stabilizer Section (2:43)
- CDU – Pump-arounds Overview (2:56)
- Pump-arounds Detail (6:21)
- Task – CDU Startup (0:44)
- Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU) - Overview (4:37)
- Operation of Vacuum Distillation Units (5:07)
- Ejectors & Liquid Ring Pumps for Vacuum Systems in VDU (2:57)
- Task - How Ejectors create Vacuum? (1:16)
- Hydrotreating - Section Overview (2:24)
- Hydrotreating - Overview (9:41)
- Chemistry of Hydrotreating (5:26)
- Typical Process Conditions in Hydrotreating (6:19)
- Hydrotreating of Naphtha (8:59)
- Hydrotreating of Kerosene (Light and Heavy Kerosene & Jet Fuel) (11:53)
- Hydrotreating of Gas Oils (Mostly Diesel) (11:53)
- Hydrotreating of Residue (Mostly Fuel Oils) (19:09)
- Catalytic Reforming - Section Overview (1:21)
- Catalytic Reforming Overview (5:39)
- Octane Number of several Hydrocarbons (2:31)
- CR - Chemistry of Reforming (11:44)
- Typical Process Conditions Favoring Catalytic Reforming (6:16)
- Process Description of Catalytic Reforming (4:26)
- Semi Regenerative Catalytic Reforming (3:18)
- Cyclic Catalytic Reformer (1:12)
- Continuous Catalytic Reformer (CCR) (1:40)
- Task - Videos on Catalytic Reforming (0:43)
- Thermal Cracking & Coking (1:12)
- Residue Treatment - Overview (8:28)
- Visbreaking - Overview (3:19)
- Chemistry of Visbreaking (3:47)
- Coil Visbreaking (3:59)
- Soaker Visbreaking (1:37)
- Coking - Overview (2:27)
- Delayed Coking (5:37)
- Fluid Coking (5:12)
- Flexi Coking (2:42)
- Asphalt - Deasphalting Unit (4:07)
- Asphalt Blowing Unit (4:05)
- Task - Delayed coker Video (0:15)
- Task - Delayed Coker Graphical Plant Animation (0:31)
- Task - Visbreaking Graphical Animation (0:46)
- BONUS (1:39)
- Lecture 008 What is a petrochemical (8:33)
- Lecture 031 Steam Cracker - Overview (11:14)
- Lecture 033 Steam Cracking of Napthta - Gas Stream (Cold Section) (9:14)
- Lecture 032 Steam Cracking of Naphtha (Hot Section) (10:45)
- Lecture 034 Steam Cracking of Napthta - Liquid Stream (Cold Section) (6:18)
- Top Q&A for Petroleum Refining (41:05)
Course Enrollment
This and all other courses are available only via the All Courses - One Subscription Membership.
Hi, I’m Emmanuel Ortega,
a.k.a. the Chemical Engineering Guy!
With five years in the chemical industry, from petrochemical plant design to polyester textiles, I bring real-world experience to show the true value of engineering knowledge.
My Expertise:
- Process Simulation & Optimization
- Chemical Process Design
- Process Equipment Design
- Automotive & Industrial Polyester Yarn Technologies
- Online Tutoring, Online Education Management
The Courses I design are entirely dynamic. You will see theory and then apply it ASAP to a real life problem! I even use the books you are using right now in your engineering courses...
I'll see you in class!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- When does the course start and finish?
- The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
- How long do I have access to the course?
- *How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
- NOTE*: This is true as long as you keep your subscription active.
- What if I am unhappy with the course?
- We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
- Will I Get a Certificate/Diploma of Completion?
- Yes! After the course, you will get a Certificate of Completion with a Diploma! You can use this in your Resume!
- Are Resources Downloadable?
- Absolutely YES! Every resource is available for download, allowing you to study alongside them.
- Any doubt? Message me!
- Please reach out! Contact@ChemicalEngineeringGuy.com
