[en] This paper reviews nuclear methods of trace metal analysis in petroleum and petroleum products. Some methodological aspects of trace analysis and elemental determination in crudes are presented and future trends are proposed in trace metal determination via neutron activation and other alternative techniques. Data obtained for some representative elements from a typical crude oil as determined by NAA are presented. Standard sample preparation is discussed. Using two neutron irradiations and four gamma spectrometric measurements, 23 elements have been determined in different crudes by INAA including Na, Mg, Al, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Br, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, and Eu