There are many resources that describe issues relating to oil refining
capacity, both in the United States and worldwide. The most common
method for measuring an oil refinery's capacity is to look at total
barrels of crude oil distillation capacity. However, another very
important measure is the amount of downstream processing capacity,
which maximizes the output of gasoline. These downstream processes
include catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, and reforming. There is
significantly less worldwide capacity in these processes than there is
in simple crude oil distillation, and most of the worldwide capacity
in this regard is based in North America ("World Refining Capacity,
2002" Energy Information Administration (2002)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/Ref_image_Ref_cap.htm).
A measurement method used in Québec is the average daily amount of
crude oil actually refined at a particular finery during 7 consecutive
days ("Regulation respecting the liquid affluence of petroleum
refineries" Québec, Canada (November 30, 2005)
http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=3&file=/Q_2/Q2R6_A.htm
I have provided numerous articles below that will allow you to learn
more about issues relating to oil refinery capacity. Please request
clarification before rating my answer if you require any additional
assistance.
Sincerely,
Wonko
Sources:
"Against that background, let's take a look at the regional splits of
refining "capacity". I've shown here total distillation capacity in
red -- and next to it in blue the demand for light products -
representing the largest portion of the refined barrel."
"Global Refining: Creating Long-Term Value" Remarks by Edward G.
Galante, Exxon and Mobil Corp. (September 23, 2004)
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Newsroom/SpchsIntvws/Corp_NR_SpchIntrvw_EGG_230904.asp
"Measuring the flows" Petroleum Economist (November 1999)
http://www.petroleum-economist.com/default.asp?page=14&PubID=46&ISS=8667&SID=325117
(Subscription Required)
"Also shown on Figure 1 is the trend in domestic refinery capacity, as
measured by total barrels of distillation capacity. While an accurate
way of measuring capacity, these data mask some underlying trends,
especially the drop in the number of refineries from
324 in 1981 to the current 153."
"Refining Capacity -- Challenges and Opportunities Facing the US
Industry" by Lawrence C. Kummins, Brent Yacobucci, and Larry B.
Parker, Petroleum Industry Research Foundation Inc. (August 17, 2004)
http://www.pirinc.org/download/RefiningCapacity.pdf
"Ideas Are Like Stars: The Current Oil Boom, 2001-2005" by Arthur E.
Berman Editor, Houston Geological Society Bulletin
http://www.rigzone.com/news/insight/insight.asp?i_id=177
"Refining" Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/Refining_text.htm
"Capacity Constraints: Meeting the Challenge" by Claude Mandil,
International Energy Agency (April 21, 2005)
http://www.iea.org/textbase/speech/2005/mandil/ifp.pdf
"Panorama 2005: Refining and Petrochemicals" IFP
http://www.ifp.fr/IFP/en/files/cinfo/IFP-Panorama05_02-RaffinageVA.pdf
"Panorama 2005: Oil Supply and Demand" IFP
http://www.ifp.fr/IFP/en/files/cinfo/IFP-Panorama05_04-OffreVA.pdf
"The simplest refineries use distillation to separate gasoline or lube
oil fractions from crude, leaving the further refining of their
residuum to other refineries or for use in asphalt. Approximately 18
percent of the U.S.'s refineries are these simple topping, asphalt, or
lube oil refineries. More sophisticated refineries will have thermal
and/or catalytic cracking capabilities, allowing them to extract a
greater fraction of gasoline blending stocks from their crude. The
largest refineries are often integrated with chemical plants, and
utilize the full range of catalytic cracking, hydroprocessing,
alkylation and thermal processes to optimize their crude utilization."
"Study of Selected Petroleum Refining Residuals" US Environmental
Protection Agency (August 1996)
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/studies/studyp.txt
Search terms: IFP "refining capacity"; measuring "refining capacity";
method for measuring oil refinery capacity; measuring oil refinery
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