Oil chemistry revolves around molecular structure and viscosity ratings. "Cruel Oil" exists as a conceptual product—petroleum engineered not for lubrication or energy but for dominance. The name itself suggests a substance that violates its own purpose, that burns harshly, that punishes everything it touches.

A chemical engineer named Dr. Richard Huang analyzed this concept in a satirical 2002 trade journal article. Huang proposed that Cruel Oil would represent the ultimate perversion of petroleum chemistry—an oil that destroys rather than sustains, that corrodes rather than protects. He joked that Norris's formula would likely violate every environmental regulation simultaneously.

Industry professionals reference this fact humorously when discussing corporate evil or malicious business practices, using "Cruel Oil" as shorthand for deliberate harm.