View source for Downstream oil and gas industry

[[Category:Done 2018-08-03]] 
<onlyinclude>'''Downstream industry''' is the portion of the [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] industry that is responsible for the refining, distributing, and retail of [[petroleum]] products. This portion of industry includes [[oil refinery|oil refineries]], [[petrochemical]] plants, petroleum products distributors, and natural gas distribution companies.</onlyinclude> Downstream industry provides numerous products such as jet fuel, [[gasoline]], [[diesel]], synthetic rubber, plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, natural gas, and [[propane]].<ref>PSAC. (June 11, 2015). ''Industry Overview'' [Online]. Available: http://www.psac.ca/business/industry-overview/</ref>

[[File:oilind.png|400px|framed|center|Figure 1. Representation of [[upstream industry|upstream]], [[midstream industry|midstream]], and downstream industry.<ref>''Created internally by a member of the Energy Education team.''</ref>]]

The different sectors within the downstream industry include:<ref>Careers in Oil and Gas. (June 12, 2015). ''Downstream Industry'' [Online]. Available: http://www.careersinoilandgas.com/build-your-career/about-the-industry/industry-overview/downstream-petroleum-industry.aspx#.VXnzaM9Viko</ref>
* Distributors
* Retail outlets (like [[gasoline station]]s)
* Production plants

==Environmental Impacts==
There are several environmental impacts that can be connected to various downstream petroleum activities. Distribution activities can be heavily reliant on [[fossil fuel]]s, which can result in more [[greenhouse gas]] [[emission]]s to the [[atmosphere]]. These emissions include [[carbon dioxide]], [[sulfur]] oxides ([[SOx]]) and [[nitrogen]] oxides ([[NOx]]); along with occasional releases of hazardous materials such as solvents or groundwater contamination from production.<ref>E. La Rovere, J. Mariano. (June 12, 2015). ''Environmental Impacts of the  Oil Industry'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c08/e6-185-18.pdf</ref> 2013 estimates report that the downstream oil and gas sector contributed about 5% of the sulfur oxide ([[SOx]]) emissions, 1% of the nitrogen oxide emissions ([[NOx]]), and 2% of the [[volatile organic compound]] emissions in Canada.<ref>Environment Canada. (July 28, 2015). ''Air Pollutant Emissions'' [Online]. Available: http://ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri/donnees-data/ap/index.cfm?lang=En</ref> These values are significantly lower than the emissions for upstream industry. Moreover, since distribution is a component of downstream oil and gas, the possibility of leaks exists.

Gasoline stations are particularly notorious for emitting [[volatile organic compound]]s.

==Interactive Graph==
For an interactive graph showing what pollutants arise from downstream oil industry click [http://energyeducation.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Detailed_pollution_data&pollutant=SOX&source=Oil_and_Gas_Industry#Detailed_Source_Data here]. The values can be compared as well to emissions from upstream and midstream industry. The pollutant being looked at is automatically set to sulfur oxides, but try changing the pollutant to nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, or carbon monoxide!

==For Further Reading==
*[[Upstream oil and gas industry]]
*[[Midstream oil and gas industry]]
*[[Greenhouse gas]]
*[[Fossil fuel]]
*Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
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