How are petroleum-based products obtained?

Petroleum-based products are primarily obtained by the distillation of crude oil. This process involves heating crude oil to separate it into various components based on their boiling points. As crude oil is heated, different hydrocarbons vaporize at different temperatures and are collected as they condense at various stages of the distillation column. This method allows for the production of a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants, and many petrochemicals used in manufacturing.

While other methods exist, such as obtaining petroleum products from natural gas or through synthesis in laboratories, they do not form the primary pathway for producing the wide variety of products derived from crude oil. Additionally, the reference to renewable sources only does not pertain to petroleum-based products, as these are inherently derived from fossil fuels rather than sustainable or renewable resources.