Oil & Gas UK Education Information Leaflets Fact Sheet 1 - North Sea Oil and it's Products Introduction Oil and gas are hydrocarbons that were formed from the remains of plants and other organisms between layers of sediment around 300 million years ago. These liquid hydrocarbons seeped gradually through porous rock until they reached an impervious layer and became trapped, forming an oil or gas field. Oil in different parts of the world contains different proportions of the various hydrocarbons. North Sea oil is relatively high in naphtha, which is used for making plastics and also for many of the refining processes that convert crude oil into its component parts. Refining There are refineries in many parts of the UK including Edinburgh, Liverpool and Milford Haven. Crude oil is separated by a heat process into the many substances that we rely on for our normal daily lives. Here are some examples of what we owe to oil, every day of our lives: At school rulers, crayons, ink and cartridges, glue, coverings on books, binders... For your health coatings for pills, binding agent for creams, disposable syringes... In the home contact lenses, cosmetics, clothing, fabrics, nail polish, deodorants, shampoo, paint, upholstery and carpets, detergents for washing up and laundry, dry-cleaning fluid... Out shopping shopping bags, credit cards, egg cartons, plastic milk bottles... While cooking non-stick pans, cling film, storage containers... For building roofing tiles, pipes, insulating material, paint... On the move petrol and diesel for cars and lorries, emergency services and trains, asphalt road surfaces... In the office computer hardware, phones and faxes, diskettes, pens, chairs, printing ink... At your leisure CDs, videos, cassette tapes, camera film, artists' paint, bicycle handlebar grips, tyres, crash helmets, football boots, trainers, shin pads, windsurfers, roller blades... Garden fertilisers, pesticides, garden furniture, plant pots... Leaflets Index Next Section

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