For a reliable Satisfactory oil guide, build your first crude oil site as a separate factory with readable pipes and a permanent outlet for every byproduct.
Key points
- Oil Processing at Tier 5 introduces crude oil, refineries and liquid byproducts.
- Mk.1 Pipelines move up to 300 m³/min and liquid systems must account for head lift.
- Plastic uses 30 m³/min crude oil for 20 plastic/min and 10 Heavy Oil Residue/min.
- Rubber uses 30 m³/min crude oil for 20 rubber/min and 20 Heavy Oil Residue/min.
The first hard lesson is simple. If the byproduct line fills up, plastic and rubber stop even while crude oil is still available. The figures below are checked against the official Steam page and the official Crude Oil wiki page. For more French guides, browse our guides, PC coverage and latest posts.
Satisfactory oil guide: key rules for beginners
- Oil Processing at Tier 5 introduces crude oil, refineries and liquid byproducts.
- Plastic uses 30 m³/min crude oil for 20 plastic/min and 10 Heavy Oil Residue/min.
- Rubber uses 30 m³/min crude oil for 20 rubber/min and 20 Heavy Oil Residue/min.
- Mk.1 pipes carry up to 300 m³/min.
- Heavy Oil Residue needs a permanent outlet, not just a large buffer.
Plan the first Satisfactory oil site
Do not start by placing every refinery you can afford. Pick a flat area near the oil node. Leave room for pipes, belts, buffers and future fuel generators.
Use two visible corridors. One handles fluids: crude oil in, Heavy Oil Residue out, fuel later. The other handles solid products such as plastic and rubber. When a line stops, this layout tells you where to look first.
- Scan for oil nodes and choose a location with space.
- Build a wide foundation platform before placing refineries.
- Reserve one side for crude oil.
- Reserve another side for solid outputs.
- Keep byproduct pipes accessible.
- Start with two to four refineries, then test flow.
Start with plastic and rubber, then add fuel
Your first oil plant should unlock progress, not chase perfect efficiency. Plastic quickly feeds circuit boards, computers and advanced parts. Rubber supports later components and fuel power buildings.
A simple starter split is two plastic refineries and one or two rubber refineries. Each solid output should go to a container or a return belt. Each liquid output must go to processing.
| Recipe | Input | Main output | Byproduct | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | 30 m³/min crude oil | 20 plastic/min | 10 Heavy Oil Residue/min | Very high |
| Rubber | 30 m³/min crude oil | 20 rubber/min | 20 Heavy Oil Residue/min | High |
| Fuel | 60 m³/min crude oil | 40 fuel/min | 30 Polymer Resin/min | After stabilization |
Stop Heavy Oil Residue from backing up
The most common oil mistake is using a Fluid Buffer as a trash can. It buys time, but it does not solve the problem. Once it fills, plastic and rubber stop again.
Route Heavy Oil Residue into a dedicated treatment line. Early on, convert it into something you can consume continuously. Later, alternate recipes can improve output, but the first plant should stay easy to read.
- Use Fluid Buffers for testing, not permanent disposal.
- Keep Heavy Oil Residue pipes separate from crude oil and fuel.
- Place treatment refineries close to plastic and rubber refineries.
- Check pipe flow indicators before rebuilding belts.
Stabilize pipes, head lift and startup flow
A Mk.1 Pipeline can move 300 m³/min. That does not mean every oil site should run through one pipe. Split networks before you hit the cap.
Height matters too. Liquids need head lift, and vertical routes may require Pipeline Pumps. If one refinery receives crude oil in pulses, check elevation, pump placement and pipe fill level.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Refineries flicker | Unstable crude oil flow | Shorten the line or add pumps on climbs |
| Plastic stops | Heavy Oil Residue backup | Process residue continuously |
| Pipe sits at 300 m³/min | Mk.1 line is capped | Split the network or upgrade later |
| Fuel generators starve | Pipes were not filled | Fill pipes and restart in groups |
Turn fuel into safe power
Fuel power is excellent once the supply is stable. At 100% clock speed, one Fuel-Powered Generator produces 250 MW and burns 20 m³/min of fuel. That makes 40 m³/min enough for two full generators.
Keep coal online while you test the first fuel line. Fill pipes before connecting every generator, then start the plant in small groups. This avoids a power failure that also stops fuel production.
What to unlock after stable oil
Once plastic and rubber are steady, focus on logistics and power before scaling. Faster belts, cleaner pipe routing and stable generators matter more than a huge setup that clogs when you leave.
- First goal: buffer plastic and rubber in containers.
- Second goal: consume Heavy Oil Residue without filling up.
- Third goal: fill fuel pipes and start generators gradually.
- Fourth goal: expand pipe capacity only when demand requires it.
- Fifth goal: use alternate recipes after every output has a destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my plastic refinery stop when crude oil is available?The Heavy Oil Residue output is probably full. Clear or process that liquid output and the refinery can resume.
A Mk.1 pipe carries 300 m³/min. With 30 m³/min crude oil recipes, that is ten refineries in theory.
Start with more plastic than rubber. Two plastic refineries and one rubber refinery make a simple first setup.
Use buffers only as temporary diagnostics. A permanent plant needs to consume or convert the residue.
Switch after your fuel supply is steady and pipes are full. Keep coal as backup during the first startup.
At 100%, it produces 250 MW and consumes 20 m³/min of fuel.
Check elevation, pump placement, pipe fill level and whether the line is close to the 300 m³/min Mk.1 limit.
Use the Steam page, the official site and the official patch wiki.
Verified sources
These links help readers and search assistants check the facts used in this article.
