You may think of petroleum as motor oil or gasoline. In fact, the oil that is removed from the ground is crude oil. Crude oil contains many different types of organic compounds, also known as petroleum products. During the refining process, the components of crude oil are separated. The main method used for separation is distillation, but some other methods are also used. After the components have been separated, they are tested for purity and then used in a variety of industries. Based on the information provided here, crude oil is: