What is Crude Oil

Oil 101 Introduction to the Oil and Gas Industry It is important to understand a few basic properties of crude oil, the key raw material processed in a refinery. Crude oils are not all the same, but rather vary in color, composition, and consistency. They are generally classified as light or heavy, and sweet or sour. Unlike water, crude oil is not a chemical compound. Rather, it is a complex mixture of molecules, consisting of compounds formed from hydrogen a