An Overview of Oil & Gas Midstream and Downstream

Oil & Gas Midstream and Downstream Primer

At the start of the 20th century, oil refineries focused on producing kerosene for heating and lighting. Gasoline was seen as a useless by-product and was simply burned off. Automotive pioneers like Benz and Ford saw an opportunity: using this gasoline as fuel. Today, things have flipped. Gasoline gets all the love (nearly 50% of crude oil becomes gasoline), and kerosene, the former star, has fallen way out of favor (less than 1% of crude oil now becomes kerosene).

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The industry that turns raw crude into whichever end products the world demands? This brings us to the Midstream and Downstream segments of Oil & Gas, which handle the transportation, storage, refining, and sale of these various products.

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This Primer is a follow-up to our foundational Oil & Gas Primer. It will explore the journey of hydrocarbons from after extraction to their many end uses, delving into the processes, economics, and industry players that drive this critical global sector.

Course: 9 Chapters

Est. time: 45 mins

What's Covered In This Primer?

Introduction

Products

Value Chain Overview

Supply

Transportation & Storage

Processing & Refining

Sales & Distribution

Ecosystem

Economics

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Chapter 1 Breakdown

Understanding the Midstream and Downstream segments of Oil & Gas

Chapter 2 Breakdown

What are the finished products produced by downstream?

Chapter 3 Breakdown

The big picture: oil, gas, and the stages of the value chain

Chapter 4 Breakdown

Understanding the sourcing of crude oil and raw natural gas

Chapter 5 Breakdown

Understanding how oil and gas are moved and stored

Chapter 6 Breakdown

Understanding how raw inputs are converted into finished products

Chapter 7 Breakdown

Understanding how raw inputs are converted into finished products

Chapter 8 Breakdown

What companies are involved in Midstream and Downstream?

Chapter 9 Breakdown

What drives the cost of finished oil and gas products?

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Oil & Gas Midstream and Downstream Trends

Reducing industry emissions

Midstream and downstream sectors are under growing pressure to reduce emissions tied to industry operations. These are Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions) and Scope 2 emissions (the emissions of purchased electricity) - they come from both the oil and gas sectors of the industry.

Rise of natural gas

Natural gas prices are relatively low because the gas is widely available, thanks to new production technologies and growing LNG exports. And natural gas is a lower emitting fuel source compared to coal and oil-based fuels. As a result, use of natural gas has been growing across several applications.

Digital twins, automation, and AI/ML

Midstream & downstream sectors have been investing in digitalization, finding ways to improve operations using computers and internet technology. The latest advancements are: digital twins, automation & robotics, and AI & Machine Learning (ML). AI/ML delivers efficiency on its own but also amplifies the other two.

How Our Oil & Gas Midstream and Downstream Primer Can Help

Build A Foundation

Go from newbie to knowledgeable in under an hour! Our primers break down the essentials of an entire industry - products, trends, terminology, and more - into a concise, easy-to-digest format. Gain the knowledge you need quickly, so you can hit the ground running with confidence and clarity.

Boost Your Credibility & Confidence

Stand out when it counts! Our primers are packed with industry insights, allowing you to navigate professional conversations with greater confidence and leave a lasting impression. With a solid foundation in industry knowledge, you'll feel prepared for any client conversation that comes your way.

Gain Competitive Edge

Nothing beats knowing! Our primers are concise but we never skimp on insights. Staying up-to-date on industry challenges, opportunities, and trends empowers business leaders to make informed strategic decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

Primed for Success

Trustworthy insights, sourced from subject matter experts

Organized and streamlined into digestible lessons

Presented in binge-worthy videos that learners love

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a primer?

Think of a primer as your quick-start guide to understanding the landscape of an industry (such as Investment Banking, Renewable Energy, Retail, etc.).

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Industry information is readily available but Googling can lead you down a rabbit hole of scattered, inconsistent and text-heavy resources - leaving a fragmented picture of the industry. And this content can miss the mark: they’re either too long and full of extraneous details, making it tough for beginners to find what they need, or too short, leaving out critical detail.

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Primerli is changing this! All our primers are presented in a concise, engaging format, covering everything you need to know in binge-worthy videos.

Who are the primers intended for?

Primers are perfect for anyone looking to understand an industry, fast. Whether you’re a consultant preparing for a case in telecom; a salesperson hoping to make headway with a big pharmaceutical customer, or a student preparing for their first job interview, primers are the prep step that enables success.

How long does it take to complete a primer?

A full primer takes less than an hour. We pack tons of insights into each primer collection of bite-sized, binge-worthy videos that you can watch anytime, anywhere. Perfect for busy schedules - because learning shouldn’t take forever.

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And for industry aficionados, our primers are split into sections so you can bypass the introductory info and stay up-to-date on trends or brush up on terminology in less than 10 minutes.

What topics does the primer cover?

Each industry primer covers the essentials: key trends, terminology, value chain, economics, and products & services. But some of our technology and functional topic primers include additional sections to make sure all the critical information is covered and each primer is comprehensive.

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