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The fuel journey, how we get fuel to your vehicle

The fuel journey

From exploration to your station.

So much more goes into getting gasoline and diesel to your vehicle than you may realize. Join us as we take you on a journey from oil exploration to pumping gas or diesel at your local Esso-branded station.

  • How we get fuel to your vehicle

    Oil rig ocean

    Exploration and development

    • The journey begins with the exploration for crude oil, which Imperial conducts in Canada
    • Next, we extract the oil by drilling, digging and other means
    • The oil is then delivered via pipelines and railways to refineries for processing

  • Oil refinery tank

    Refining oil into fuel and other products

    Refining is the process by which crude oil is turned into everyday products.

    At refineries:

    • Crude oil is refined into gasoline, diesel, propane and other petroleum products such as feedstocks, which are used to make plastics found in vehicles, plasma TVs and more
    • From the refinery, gasoline and diesel fuels are transported via pipelines, ships and railways to terminals

  • Formulating high quality Esso-branded fuel

    It is at the terminals that Imperial adds detergents and additives to our gasoline to formulate our own unique, high quality blends.

    • Detergents are added to gasoline to help clean fuel injectors, intake valves and other engine parts*
    • Esso-branded gasoline contains significantly more detergents than the minimum quantity required by the Canadian Government Standards Board (CGSB) and has passed other performance tests.
    • Ethanol is blended into the gasoline. This is done to meet Canada’s Renewable Fuels Regulations requirements for reducing emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Gasoline with 10% ethanol is approved for use by all automotive vehicle manufacturers in North America
    • Our gasolines are available in three grades across the country and in four grades in most of the Greater Toronto Area
    • We conduct tests to verify that the fuel we manufacture meets or exceeds engine builder, industry and government specifications

  • Pov gas tank station

    Getting the fuel to your tank

    Once the fuels are mixed to Imperial’s exacting standards, they are delivered by truck to individual stations all across the country.

    • The trucks have different compartments so that the gasoline grades and diesel fuels are transported separately
    • The fuels are pumped from the separate truck compartments into designated holding tanks
    • When you select a gas grade at the pump, the gas is drawn from the corresponding tank

*Applies to Esso-branded gasoline compared to gasoline meeting minimum CGSB detergency standards, where applicable. Actual benefits vary depending on factors such as vehicle type, driving style, and gasoline previously used.