Based on the data obtained in test runs of two industrial-scale primary crude oil refining plants at OAO Orsknefteorgsintez (Open Joint-Stock Company Orsk Oil Refining and Organic Synthesis), a comparative analysis is made of values of energy consumption at the partial topping stage in various versions of operation of a K-1 type of cross-current packed column. The analysis is performed by mathematical modeling. It is shown that compared to the use of a "hot stream," feeding a K-1 column with desalted oil streams at two levels reduces energy consumption for oil fractionation and extracts more of the gasoline fraction having the required final boiling point.