Gasoline is one of the many products that come from crude oil and normally accounts for the bulk of refinery products. From a typical barrel of oil, processing can yield the following:
Gasoline quality and constituents can vary based on the type of crude oil it is derived from and the refining process used to produce it. It must also meet particular standards and enviromental regulations which can vary from state to state, and country to country. RBOB in particular is oxygenated via oxygen bearing compounds which are intended to reduce carbon monoxide emissions as well as smog and air pollutants. Ethanol is one of these added compounds, and in the United States corn ethanol is normally used.
Since specific areas have different requirements, gasoline produced distinctly for some areas cannot be used or substituted in others. Gasoline is normally held in bulk storage terminals after shipment through the pipeline and many additive packages are blended in the truck tank.
According to the EIA, the main components of the retail price of gasoline include the price of the crude oil, Federal and States' taxes, refining costs and profits, and distribution and marketing costs. The percentage weight of these components in the overall price of gasoline can and has varied at different times and in different regions of the country.
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