制冷压缩机需要润滑才能正常工作；无油类型尚未设计和完善。因此，确保润滑油的供应对制冷行业的持续增长至关重要。除某些合成类型外，压缩机油主要是从石油润滑油库存中提取的流体。炼油厂将这些油归类为特种油。1973-74年石油危机期间，冷冻油以及其他类型的特种油的需求量超过了可用供应量。造成这种短缺的原因目前还不明显。但是，由于冷冻油对制冷行业的未来以及对社会至关重要，因此对其未来可用性的评估是一个值得关注的问题。 本研究试图定义影响可用性的已知因素，并评估其未来影响。引文:华盛顿州西雅图ASHRAE学报第82卷第2部分研讨会

Refrigeration compressors require lubrication in order to function; oil-less types have not as yet been designed and perfected. Thus, an assured supply of lubricant is essential to the continuing growth of the refrigeration industry. Except for certain synthetic types, compressor oils are principally fluids derived from petroleum lUbricating oil stocks. The refiner classifies these oils as a specialty type oil.During the petroleum emergency of 1973-74, demand for refrigeration oils, as well as other types of specialty oils, exceeded the available supply. The reasons for this shortage are not immediately obvious. But because refrigeration oils are so critically important to the future of the refrigeration industry, and to society as well, an assessment of their future availability is a matter of concern. This study attempts to define the known factors affecting availability, and to assess their future impact.