A definitive way to answer the question, "What is a gasoline refinery?" would be to say that it is a building complex that has been specifically constructed to a set standard, for the direct purpose of creating gasoline through a three-stage process. These building complexes are referred to as refineries because crude oil is refined to the point where it is turned into usable gasoline. Through the refinement stages of separation, conversion, and treatment, a gasoline product is produced to the point where it will be ready to leave the refinery and be delivered to a retailer.

An explanatory way to answer the question, "What is a gasoline refinery?" would be to explain why the refinery is built. These refineries are built to the required size to handle the expected production levels required by higher authority. If the refineries production levels are high then the plant in which the product will be refined in will likely be a very large facility, over 2 footballs in size. Each area of these refineries are built to handle the particular phase that the product is in at any given time. The first phase requires that a storage area be built for chemicals because the separation process converts crude oil to many chemical components. Another building is constructed called a distillation tower to hold the converted chemical component until it is transferred for further processing. The second phase requires the construction or purchase of reactors, furnaces, and heat exchangers to handle the heat and pressure necessary to crack molecules to the point where they will create a gasoline product. Since there are many different methods to this process, other material will be needed to create the light-based gasoline molecules. The last phase is the orchestration of mixing and treating all products in the holding containers to a refined product that is suitable for sale to the public. This is also the level in which the various octane levels are determined that are bought at the gas station.

There are some people that would answer the question, What is a gasoline refinery?" as a complex process of chemicals that has been perfected over time. The gasoline processing started out as an effort to utilize tarry oil from oil wells to benefit the community with light oil and finally gasoline. It has been perfected and patented by some companies who now offer their special performance blends.

The logical way to answer the question, "What is a gasoline refinery?" would be to explain that a gasoline refinery makes driving an automobile possible. If the gasoline refineries did not exist, then the process for molecule conversion would not be possible, and a gas product would not have been possible.

A politically correct way to answer the question "What is a gasoline refinery?" would be to say that it is a place that provides a service to the community. Through the employment of its citizens, it has improved their quality of life and furthered the expansion efforts of the community. It has also enhanced the prosperity of people in foreign countries through the revenues that gasoline sales generate.

An environmental way to answer the question, "What is a gasoline refinery?" would be to explain these refineries are closely monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federally funded agencies to ensure that all industrial emissions that come from the various phases of the production process for gasoline do not harm the atmosphere, or natural resources that surround the refinery. All waste-water is monitored as well to ensure that there is no pollution to streams and other drinking water areas that could be used by the public.