# Refining and reforming: Overview

How black crude and grey gas become the fuels we burn

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/overview/

What this tile covers Turning crude oil and gas into fuels and hydrogen. Share of use 33% share of final energy use (2019)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. (calculated) Oil products made 40.4% of world final energy in 2019 (IEA). Refinery runs were 82.7 million b/d in 2024 (IEA, via Argus), about 81% of the 101.8 million b/d of oil consumed (Energy Institute); applying 81% to 40.4% gives about 32.8%. Natural gas liquids and biofuels that bypass refineries are excluded; refinery volume gains make product output slightly larger than runs, so this is slightly low. Hydrogen and syngas from reformers (overlap) are not added. Source: [Key World Energy Statistics 2021](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/52f66a88-0b63-4ad2-94a5-29d36e864b82/KeyWorldEnergyStatistics2021.pdf), International Energy Agency.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (crude) → heat (distillation) → chemical (cracking, reforming) → fuels |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Oil refining (distillation, cracking, reforming)
- Steam methane reforming (grey hydrogen)
- Coal gasification and coal-to-liquids

#### Linked to the material world
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)[H2 Hydrogen](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/)

#### Also in Fuel processing
[eF Low-carbon hydrogen and e-fuels](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/green_hydrogen_carriers/)[PtX Power-to-X](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_refining/links/index.md)