For more than 100 years, consumers have relied upon oil and natural gas to enhance their quality of life. The cars we drive, the food we eat, the medicines we need – each product is touched in some way by America’s oil and natural gas industry. When we heat our homes, fills our gas tanks or reach for an aspirin, it’s the oil and natural gas industry that helps make it happen.
Currently, oil and natural gas fuel more than 97 percent of our nation’s vehicles, whether on land, sea, or in the air. Oil and natural gas are also key components in the vast majority of all manufactured goods. Whether it’s surgical equipment, fertilizers, phones, CDs, paints or fuels, the oil and natural gas industry supports our day-to-day safety, mobility, health and lifestyle.
Workplace, Agriculture and Commerce
In the workplace, in agriculture and in commerce, oil and natural gas keep us competitive and help create and protect American jobs. Petrochemical products are widely used in manufacturing for:
- Computers
- Fertilizers
- Adhesives
- Feedstocks
- Heating and Cooling
- Tools
Health and Safety
Our health and safety depend on products whose key components originate from petroleum:
- Artificial hearts and pacemakers
- Aspirin
- Soft contact lenses
- Bandages
- Emergency and Surgical equipment
- Antihistamines
Household Products
Oil and natural gas are processed to provide advanced fuels and the essential ingredients that make our homes comfortable, safe and enjoyable inside and out:
- Plastics
- Appliances
- Hot Water
- Roofing
- Cleaning Supplies
- Phones
- Clothing
Outdoor, Indoor and Family Recreation
When America plays, the oil and natural gas industry gets them where they want to go and helps create the "toys" we enjoy for outdoor, indoor and family recreation, including:
- Gas grills
- Basketballs, Footballs and Sports Equipment
- Life jackets
- CDs and portable music players
- Boats and Personal watercraft
- Goggles and Sunglasses
- Skis
- Surfboards
Transportation
A key component of our quality of life is personal mobility—the freedom to travel where we want, when we want, and the availability of safe and reliable transportation. The oil and natural gas industry powers most of our vehicles including:
- Cars, Trucks and Buses
- Emergency Vehicles and Fire Trucks
- Trains
- Planes
- Boats