EIA Home
Home  >  Petroleum  >  Navigator
Petroleum Navigator
Energy Glossary
 Definitions, Sources and Explanatory Notes
 Category:   Petroleum Refining & Processing
 Topic:   Oxygenate Production

  Definitions
Key Terms Definition
Barrel A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons.
Captive Refinery Oxygenate Plants Oxygenate production facilities located within or adjacent to a refinery complex.
Fuel Ethanol An anhydrous denatured aliphatic alcohol intended for gasoline blending as described in Oxygenates definition.
Gasohol A blend of finished motor gasoline containing alcohol (generally ethanol but sometimes methanol) at a concentration of 10 percent or less by volume. Data on gasohol that has at least 2.7 percent oxygen, by weight, and is intended for sale inside carbon monoxide nonattainment areas are included in data on oxygenated gasoline.
Merchant Oxygenate Plants Oxygenate production facilities that are not associated with a petroleum refinery. Production from these facilities is sold under contract or on the spot market to refiners or other gasoline blenders.
MTBE (Methyl tertiary butyl ether) An ether intended for gasoline blending as described in "Oxygenates."
Oxygenates Substances which, when added to gasoline, increase the amount of oxygen in that gasoline blend. Ethanol, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE), and methanol are common oxygenates.
Petroleum Administration for Defense (PAD) Districts Geographic aggregations of the 50 States and the District of Columbia into five districts by the Petroleum Administration for Defense in 1950. These districts were originally defined during World War II for purposes of administering oil allocation. Description and maps of PAD Districts and Refining Districts.
For definitions of related energy terms, refer to the EIA Energy Glossary.
  Sources
  • Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-819, "Monthly Oxygenate Report".
  • EIA Forms & Instructions .
  • Background, Survey Methodology and Statistical Details .
  •   Explanatory Notes
  • Oxygenate production is reported by all facilities that produce oxygenates.
  • Description and maps of PAD Districts and Refining Districts from the Petroleum Supply Monthly.

     ·  ·  ·  ·