Oil vs. Petroleum — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Oil is a general term for any viscous liquid; petroleum specifically refers to crude oil extracted from the earth, used for fuel and other products.
Difference Between Oil and Petroleum
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Oil is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of liquids. These can be natural or synthetic, and their uses vary from culinary (like olive oil) to industrial. Petroleum, on the other hand, is a specific type of oil. It is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found beneath the Earth’s surface and is used primarily as a fuel source.
Oil can be derived from various sources. For instance, vegetable oil is extracted from plants, and there are oils produced from animals as well. In contrast, petroleum is exclusively a geological product, formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient organisms. It is not derived from living sources today but rather mined.
The term "oil" can also refer to petroleum, but not all oils are petroleum. This distinction is important in both commercial and scientific contexts. For instance, an oil spill in the ocean could be from vegetable oil or petroleum, but the environmental impact and cleanup methods would differ greatly.
Refinement processes also differentiate the two. Various oils like cooking oils are refined through processes like pressing and filtering. Petroleum, however, undergoes a complex refinement process that transforms it into various products like gasoline, diesel, and plastics.
In daily usage, oil might refer to any slippery liquid, such as oil used for lubrication in machinery. Petroleum, while it can be used for lubrication after processing, is typically associated with its role as a primary energy source in the form of fuels like gasoline.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Source
Derived from plants, animals, or synthetic processes
Extracted from beneath the Earth’s surface
Types
Includes vegetable, mineral, essential oils, etc.
Primarily crude oil used for fuel and other products
Uses
Cooking, lubrication, health, industrial, etc.
Mainly as fuel, and in making plastics and chemicals
Composition
Varies widely depending on type
Complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other compounds
Environmental Impact
Varies; some are biodegradable, some are not
Often associated with pollution and climate change
Compare with Definitions
Oil
Lubricants used in machinery and equipment.
The gears need more oil to function smoothly.
Petroleum
A valuable, naturally occurring liquid fossil fuel.
Countries with petroleum reserves are often wealthy.
Oil
Concentrated extracts from plants used for aroma or therapy.
Lavender oil helps me relax.
Petroleum
A primary source of energy for vehicles and industries.
Petroleum fuels most of our cars.
Oil
A colorless, odorless petroleum byproduct used in cosmetics and medicine.
Mineral oil is often found in lotions.
Petroleum
Unrefined petroleum extracted from geological formations.
Crude petroleum needs refining before use.
Oil
An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water, literally "water fearing") and lipophilic (mixes with other oils, literally "fat loving"). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active.
Petroleum
A substance causing environmental harm when spilled.
The petroleum spill affected marine life.
Oil
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant.
Petroleum
Base substance for plastics and chemicals.
Many everyday items are made from petroleum.
Oil
Oil paint
A portrait in oils
Petroleum
Petroleum (), also known as crude oil and oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels.
Oil
Information or facts
Young had some good oil on the Adelaide races
Petroleum
A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons which is present in suitable rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including petrol, paraffin, and diesel oil; oil.
Oil
Lubricate, coat, or impregnate with oil
A lightly oiled baking tray
Petroleum
A thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the earth's surface, can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, fuel and lubricating oils, paraffin wax, and asphalt and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products.
Oil
Supply with oil as fuel
Attempts should not be made to oil individual tanks too rapidly
Petroleum
A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.
Oil
Any of numerous mineral, vegetable, or synthetic substances or animal or vegetable fats that are generally slippery, combustible, viscous, liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a great variety of products, especially lubricants and fuels.
Petroleum
Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc.
Oil
Petroleum.
Petroleum
A dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
Oil
A petroleum derivative, such as a machine oil or lubricant.
Oil
A protective or cosmetic liquid applied to the skin or hair.
Oil
Oil paint.
Oil
A painting done in oil paint.
Oil
To lubricate, supply, cover, or polish with oil.
Oil
Liquid fat.
Oil
Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.
Oil
Petroleum
Oil
(countable) An oil painting.
Oil
(painting) Oil paint.
I prefer to paint in oil
Oil
(attributive) Containing oil, conveying oil; intended for or capable of containing oil.
Oil barrel; oil pipe
Oil
(transitive) To lubricate with oil.
Oil
(transitive) To grease with oil for cooking.
Oil
Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc. They are of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin and of varied composition, and they are variously used for food, for solvents, for anointing, lubrication, illumination, etc. By extension, any substance of an oily consistency; as, oil of vitriol.
Oil
To smear or rub over with oil; to lubricate with oil; to anoint with oil.
Oil
A slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water
Oil
Oil paint used by an artist
Oil
Any of a group of liquid edible fats that are obtained from plants
Oil
Cover with oil, as if by rubbing;
Oil the wooden surface
Oil
Administer an oil or ointment to ; often in a religious ceremony of blessing
Oil
A plant-based liquid used in food preparation.
I use olive oil for salad dressings.
Oil
Oil used as fuel, often in heating and engines.
The furnace runs on fuel oil during winter.
Common Curiosities
Are all oils harmful to the environment?
Not all. Some, like vegetable oils, are biodegradable, but petroleum can be harmful.
Is oil always a form of petroleum?
No, oil can be vegetable, mineral, or synthetic, not just petroleum.
Can petroleum be used directly from the ground?
No, it typically needs refining to be usable.
Is petroleum found everywhere?
No, it's found in specific geological formations.
How is oil extracted?
Methods vary: drilling for petroleum, pressing for vegetable oils.
What products are made from petroleum?
Fuels, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and more.
Is oil renewable?
Some oils, like vegetable oils, are renewable. Petroleum is not.
What is the main use of petroleum?
It's primarily used as fuel for transportation and heating.
Can oil be edible?
Yes, cooking oils are edible, but petroleum is not.
Does oil always come from organic sources?
No, there are synthetic oils made from chemical processes.
Can petroleum be a gas?
Petroleum gases exist, like propane, but petroleum is mainly liquid.
Can oil be used for power generation?
Yes, both petroleum and certain bio-oils are used for power.
Are all oils liquid at room temperature?
Most are, but some oils, like coconut oil, can solidify.
Is oil used in medicine?
Yes, some oils, like mineral oil, are used in medicines.
Do oil spills always refer to petroleum?
No, spills can involve different types of oils.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Osteomalacia vs. Osteoporosis
Next Comparison
Fence vs. FencingAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
