1. Exploration and Extraction:
- Exploration can take several years, including geological surveys and drilling exploratory wells.
- Extraction involves drilling production wells and bringing the crude oil to the surface. This can take a few months to a few years.
2. Transportation to the Refinery:
- If the oil field is onshore, the crude oil is transported through pipelines. If it's offshore, tankers or pipelines are used.
- Transportation time depends on the distance. For example, from the Middle East to Europe, it could take 2-3 weeks by ship.
3. Refining:
- Once at the refinery, the crude oil undergoes various processes to separate and transform it into different products.
- Depending on the complexity of the refinery and the desired products, refining can take a few weeks to several months.
4. Distribution to Petrol Pumps:
- The refined products, such as petrol (gasoline), are transported to petrol pumps through pipelines, railcars, or road tankers.
- Distribution time can vary based on the distance and availability of transportation infrastructure.
In summary, the entire process from crude oil extraction to its availability at petrol pumps can take from several months to over a year, depending on various factors and geographical locations. It involves multiple stages, including exploration, production, transportation, refining, and distribution.
