​NON-ENERGY USAGE: MEDICINE & MANUFACTURING

​Petroleum’s common perception its role as a fuel source and this is only a fraction of its true significance. Several analysis of petroleum value chain shows that crude oil and natural gas are also indispensable chemical feedstock’s that serve the foundational building blocks for thousands of non-fuel products that are sued in the modern society. Statistics shows that over 144 products are derived from petroleum with over 6000 applications.
A partial list of products made from Petroleum (144 of 6000 items). One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like in the table below. (AI In Oil & Gas: A Compilation of Real-World Success Stories, n.d.-b)
Solvents
Diesel fuel
Motor Oil
Bearing Grease
Ink
Floor Wax
Ballpoint Pens
Football Cleats
Upholstery
Sweaters
Boats
Insecticides
Bicycle Tires
Sports Car Bodies
Nail Polish
Fishing lures
Dresses
Tires
Golf Bags
Perfumes
Cassettes
Dishwasher parts
Tool Boxes
Shoe Polish
Motorcycle Helmet
Caulking
Petroleum Jelly
Transparent Tape​
CD Player
Faucet Washers
Antiseptics
Clothesline
Curtains
Food Preservatives
Basketballs
Soap
Vitamin Capsules
Antihistamines
Purses
Shoes
Dashboards
Cortisone
Deodorant
Shoelace Aglets
Putty
Dyes
Panty Hose
Refrigerant
Percolators
Life Jackets
Rubbing Alcohol
Linings
Skis
TV Cabinets
Shag Rugs
Electrician’s Tape
Tool Racks
Car Battery Cases
Epoxy
Paint
Mops
Slacks
Insect Repellent
Oil Filters
Umbrellas
​Yarn
Fertilizers
Hair Coloring
Roofing
Toilet Seats
Fishing Rods
Lipstick
Denture Adhesive
Linoleum
Ice Cube Trays
Synthetic Rubber
Speakers
Plastic Wood
​Electric Blankets
Glycerin
Tennis Rackets
Rubber Cement
Fishing Boots
Dice
Nylon Rope
Candles
Trash Bags
House Paint
Water Pipes
Hand Lotion
Roller Skates
Surf Boards
Shampoo
Wheels
Painters
Shower Curtains
Guitar Strings
Luggage
Aspirin
Safety Glasses
Antifreeze
Football Helmets
Awnings
Eyeglasses
Clothes
Toothbrushes
Ice Chests
Footballs
Combs
CD’s & DVD’s
Paintbrushes
Detergents
Vaporizers
Balloons
Sunglasses
Tents
Heart Valves
Crayons
Parachutes
Telephones
Enamel
Pillows
Dishes
Cameras
Anesthetics
Artificial Turf
Artificial limbs
Bandages
Dentures
Model Cars
Folding Doors
Hair Curlers
Cold cream
Movie film
Contact lenses
Drinking Cups
Fan Belts
Car Enamel
Shaving Cream
Ammonia
Refrigerators
Golf Balls
Toothpaste
Gasoline
Picture
To fully comprehend the breadth of petroleum's non-energy applications, let’s take a step to understand how crude oil and natural gas get turned into everyday chemicals. Through refining and a process called “cracking,” hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, or naphtha are heated to very high temperatures to produce simple but powerful building blocks such as ethylene and propylene. These are the starting point for plastics, polymers, and even materials used in medicine and technology. What’s interesting is that crude oil and natural gas each have their own separate supply chains, so the products we get, and the strategies for replacing them in a cleaner future, depend a lot on which feedstock is used.
Petrochemical Name
Source (Crude Oil or Natural Gas)
Downstream Product Groups
Examples of Final Products
Ethylene
Both
Polyethylene, PVC, Polystyrene
Water pipes, home siding, insulation
Propylene
Both
Polypropylene, Synthetic Rubbers
Fibers for carpets, hard plastics, medical devices
Benzene
Crude Oil
Phenol, Cumene
Aspirin, detergents, dyes
Naphtha
Crude Oil
Various Petrochemicals
Solvents, lubricating oils, waxes

THE BACKBONE OF MODERN MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE

The healthcare sector is petroleum’s most impactful and least recognized contributions. Over 90% of disposable medical products come from petroleum-based plastics. Examples are syringes, IV bags, blood bags, artificial limbs, contact lenses, and heart valves



Key polymers:
  • Polypropylene (PP): syringes, connectors, prostheses.
  • Polyethylene (PE): surgical implants.
  • PVC: catheters, blood bags.
  • ABS: 3D-printed devices, tracheal tubes.


Pharmaceuticals & Drug Production

Around 99% of pharmaceutical ingredients rely on petrochemicals. Common medicines like aspirin, Tylenol, and antibiotics depend on petroleum in their production. Even natural drugs (like penicillin) use petrochemicals in purification and preparation. Polymer-based pill capsules and time-release drugs also depend on petroleum-derived materials.
​
Special Applications :
​
  • Carbon Fiber: Used in tendon and ligament repair, and X-ray equipment.
  • Hydrogel Contact Lenses: Petroleum-based plastics enabled modern soft lenses.
  • MRI Scanners: Depend on liquid helium (sourced from natural gas) to function.
Medical Product
Petroleum Derivative
Function in Product
Aspirin, Tylenol, Antihistamines
Cumene, Phenol, Benzene, etc.
Active ingredients and preparatory agents   
Syringes, Implants, Blood Bags
Polypropylene, Polyethylene, PVC
Lightweight, durable, and sterilizable materials for medical devices   
Soft Contact Lenses
Hydrogel
Material that absorbs water for comfort and oxygen permeability   
Surgical Repair of Tendons & Ligaments
Carbon Fiber (from polyacrylonitrile)
Lightweight, high-strength material for surgical implants   
MRI Scanners
Liquid Helium (from natural gas)
Cryogenic cooling agent for the magnets   
Pill Capsules and Coatings
Polymers
Material for encapsulating and administering medications   

UNEXPECTED PRODUCTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Petroleum’s impact also goes beyond energy and medicine, it quietly shapes almost everything we use in daily life. From the beauty industry to food production and even the roads we walk on, petroleum is the invisible backbone of modern living.
 
Personal Care & Cosmetics
  • Up to 80% of cosmetics and personal care products contain petroleum-derived ingredients.
  • Lipstick: Paraffin wax (from crude oil) gives it structure and that smooth feel.
  • Perfumes & Deodorants: Propylene glycol helps fragrances last longer and keeps products blended.
  • Hair Dyes: Modern dyes are petroleum-based, even though some are still labeled “coal-tar dyes.”

Textiles & Consumer Goods
  • Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester, and spandex (all petrochemical products) are essential for clothes, carpets, and upholstery.
  • Petroleum-based plastics and resins show up everywhere: in cars, electronics, furniture, packaging, and even small household items like TV cabinets and shower curtains.

Agriculture & Infrastructure
  • Fertilizers: Nearly all ammonia-based fertilizers come from natural gas. This process feeds billions of people, showing how energy and food security are directly linked.
  • Asphalt: Roads rely on bitumen, a heavy byproduct of oil refining, which makes up about 5% of asphalt.
  • Other Everyday Items: Even chewing gum bases, detergents, and cleaning products trace their origins back to petroleum.

Petroleum is more than fuel, it’s in the clothes we wear, the food we grow, the medicines we take, and even the roads we travel. 
Product
Primary Petroleum Derivative
Role in Product
Lipstick
Paraffin Wax
Forms the structure and provides smooth texture 
Chewing Gum
Polymers
Constitutes the "gum base" for chewable texture  
Fertilizer
Ammonia (from natural gas)
Supplies nitrogen, a key nutrient for plant growth 
Roads
Bitumen (from crude oil)
Serves as the binding agent in asphalt  
Clothing, Carpets
Nylon, Polyester, Polypropylene
Synthesized into durable, flexible fibers  
Shampoo, Deodorant
Propylene Glycol
Emulsifying and smoothing agent   

​REFERENCES

AI in Oil & Gas: A Compilation of Real-World Success Stories. (n.d.-b). https://www.crowdfield.net/blogposts/ai-in-oil-gas-a-compilation-of-real-world-success-stories
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, August 26). Petroleum. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum
Keane, C. (n.d.). Non-Fuel products of oil and gas. American Geosciences Institute. https://profession.americangeosciences.org/reports/petroleum-environment-2018/non-fuel-products-oil-gas/
CAPP. (2025, March 26). Petroleum and real Life | CAPP. CAPP | a Unified Voice for Canada’s Upstream Oil and Gas Industry. https://www.capp.ca/en/oil-natural-gas-you/petroleum-and-real-life/
Remington Medical. (2025, August 26). Explaining types of plastic used in medical devices. https://remmed.com/explaining-types-of-plastic-used-in-medical-devices/
Roberts, W. C. (2010). Facts and Ideas from Anywhere. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 23(2), 184–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2010.11928617
Javid, D. (2024, January 15). 24 Hidden roles of petroleum in everyday products. Doctor Green Life. https://doctorgreenlife.com/blogs/healthy-lifestyle/petroleum