Crude oil is a mixture of hundreds of different types of chemical substances (made up of carbon and hydrogen) called hydrocarbons. No other natural raw material has to the same extent impacted the evolution of contemporary industrial society. Crude oil is fractionated and processed into the products that the market demands. Crude oil comes in all varieties, from very light (e.g. North Sea crudes) to very heavy crudes. Examples of the composition of three North Sea crudes and one Arabic are provided below.

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