When automobiles became popular at the turn of the century, oil became more widely used. Gasoline made from oil was a valuable fuel for cars. Today, about half of all oil is used for transportation. Gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuel are all refined from oil. Oil is also burned to generate electricity, to heat homes and buildings, and to fuel industrial processes.
Oil is used as a raw material to make other chemicals.
Fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, and industrial chemicals are made from oil. About 20 per cent of oil is made into other products. Oil must be moved from where it is found to where it is used. About half of it is moved by ocean-going tanker ships. Most of the rest moves in pipelines.