Crude oil refining is about converting the raw material into the oil products that consumers demand. Crude oil is pumped ashore from large tankers and into crude oil tanks. From there it is pumped through a heating system (heat exchangers and furnace) to the main distillation tower for a "primary sorting" of the various main components.

The refining processes are monitored and controlled from a control center by means of advanced electronics and computer based control programs.

The loading and discharge of raw material and oil products are handled from a separate control room located by the pier. The control room also monitors the tank farm, the water treatment plant, and various pump operations. The refinery is operated around the clock all around the year, with highly qualified technicians keeping a vigilant eye on operations at all times. Temperatures, pressure and through-put in all parts of the plant may be monitored from the two control rooms. The operation is optimized to get an optimum value added in the form of oil products using the lowest amount of energy possible.