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Interesting idea! Personally I really like the idea of making money and helping solve an environmental problem at the same time... I'm not at all familiar with

Interesting idea! Personally I really like the idea of making money and helping solve an environmental problem at the same time... I'm not at all familiar with the low-level process of oil refinement, but would weathering/chemicals/whatever affect the quality/viability of the oil, or would it be fine just to sell it on as crude?

_delirium 16y ago
Weathering does affect it significantly; oil that's been floating for more than a day or two is known as "weathered oil", and tends to be a heavier, clumpy substance that's more tar-like than crude is. It's a lot less valuable than crude, also, since it's difficult to refine into things like gasoline or jet fuel, and ends up being used mainly for asphalt instead. Some companies do recover it, though. I believe oiled sands from beaches are typically recovered and used industrially also, but again, for fairly low-value things like asphalt.