What is oil used for?
Some of the more obvious petroleum products include transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating and electricity generation, asphalt and road oil.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 75% of the 6.79 billion barrels of petroleum used in the US in 2012 were gasoline, heating oil/diesel fuel, and jet fuel.
However, petroleum is not just used for fuel. Petroleum products are also used to make various plastics, synthetic materials and chemical products; in fact, petroleum can be found in many common household items. Below are some examples.
| Clothing | Ink | Heart Valves | Crayons |
| Parachutes | Telephones | Antiseptics | Deodorant |
| Pantyhose | Rubbing Alcohol | Carpets | Hearing Aids |
| Motorcycle helmets | Pillows | Shoes | Electrical tape |
| Safety glass | Nylon rope | Fertilizers | Hair coloring |
| Toilet seats | Candles | Credit cards | Aspirin |
| Golf balls | Detergents | Sunglasses | Glue |
| Fishing rods | Linoleum | Soft contact lenses | Trash bags |
| Hand lotion | Shampoo | Shaving cream | Footballs |
| Paint brushes | Balloons | Fan belts | Umbrellas |
| Luggage | Antifreeze | Tires | Dishwashing liquids |
| Toothbrushes | Toothpaste | Combs | Tents |
| Lipstick | Tennis rackets | House paint | Guitar strings |
| Ammonia | Eyeglasses | Ice chests | Life jackets |
| Cameras | Artificial turf | Artificial Limbs | Bandages |
| Dentures | Ballpoint pens | Nail polish | Caulking |
| Skis | Fishing lures | Perfumes | Shoe polish |
| Antihistamines | Cortisone | Dyes | Roofing |
For more information visit the US Energy Information Administration website.