CENTER FOR OIL
Supply chain

Follow the physical barrel.

An accessible guide to how oil moves through the industry, and the operational questions each stage introduces.

01 · Production

From reservoir to delivery point

Production profiles, field conditions, maintenance and export availability influence the volumes that reach the market. Ask which grade, what specification and which delivery window.

02 · Transport & storage

From origin to destination

Pipelines, terminals and ships move and buffer supply. Ask about route, terminal access, transit time, storage duration and disruption exposure.

03 · Refining

From crude to useful products

Refineries use different processes and equipment to make petroleum products. Feedstock compatibility and outages can change demand for a particular crude.

04 · Distribution & use

From refinery to end market

Products enter transport, industrial and chemical supply chains. Final demand and regional product needs feed back into refinery activity.

Source: EIA · Refining crude oil →
Analytical checklist: distinguish crude supply from refined product supply; name the period and geography; separate actual observations from forecasts; record the source.