A cut refers to a portion of petroleum that boils within a specific temperature range in a distillation column. Each cut contains a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules with similar weights and boiling points. Refiners separate crude oil into light cuts like naphtha, middle cuts like kerosene and diesel, and heavy cuts like residual fuel oil.
Heard on the job
We need to adjust the column temperature to pull a heavier diesel cut.
Also heard as
- fraction
Related terms
Distillation
The primary refinery process that separates crude oil into different hydrocarbon groups by boiling point.
Narrow-cut
Describing a refined petroleum product distilled within a very tight boiling point range.
Wide-cut
Describing a petroleum fuel blend that contains hydrocarbons spanning a broad range of boiling points.