Oil

 Crude oil is a naturally-occurring substance found trapped in certain rocks below the earth's crust. It is a dark, sticky liquid which, scientifically speaking, is classed as a hydrocarbon. This means, it is a compound containing only hydrogen and carbon. 

Oil well

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It was also formed more than 300 million years ago. Some scientists say that tiny diatoms is the source of oil. Diatoms are sea creatures the size of a pin head. They do one thing just like plants; they can convert sunlight directly into stored energy.

Crude oil is highly flammable and can be burned to create energy. Crude oil is measured in barrels. When crude oil first came into large-scale commercial use in the United States in the 19th century, it was stored in wooden barrels. One barrel equals 42 US gallons, or 159 litres.

The U.S.'s first commercial oil well was drilled in 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania, by Edwin Drake
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Today's oil industry began almost 150 years ago -- in 1859. In those days, an oily fuel for lamps and lubricants was made by melting the fact of whales. But whale oil had become expensive. A company called the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company became interested in digging for natural oil. Oily rocks had been encountered in Pennsylvania by people drilling for salt. At first, this "rock oil" had been used as a medicine, but if enough of it could be found, perhaps it might be a cheaper substitute for whale oil. The Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company came up with the idea of drilling for oil. Not everyone was convinced, however. One banker who was asked to lend some of the money for the venture remarked, "Oil coming out of the ground, pumping oil out of the earth as you pump water? Nonsense!" But the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company was convinced that drilling for oil -- rather than digging for it -- was the way to go. They hired a part-time railroad conductor named Edwin L. Drake to go to Titusville, Pennsylvania and see if he couldn't drill for oil. After a year of planning and drilling Drake struck oil. A new industry was born.

As of January 1, 2006, proved world oil reserves were estimated at 1,293 billion barrels—15 billion barrels (about 1 percent) higher than the estimate for 2005. Of the world’s total proved oil reserves 71 percent is located in the Middle East or Canada.

Modern-day oil prospecters use sound waves to locate oil. In one technique, (1) a signal is sent into the rock by a vibrator turck, (2) the reflected waves are received by geophones, and (3) the data is transmitted to a laboratory truck.

Oil provides about 40 percent of the energy Americans consume and 97 percent of U.S. transportation fuels.

Countries with largest crude oil reserves

(Billion Barrels)

OPEC is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the stability and prosperity of the petroleum market, as enshrined in the OPEC Statute. OPEC Membership is open to any country which is a substantial net exporter of oil and which shares the ideals of the Organization. OPEC has 11 Countries as Members. The OPEC Member Countries (MCs) currently supply more than 40 per cent of the world's oil and they possess about 78 per cent of the world's total proven crude oil reserves.  more info click here

Products Made from a Barrel of Crude Oil

(Gallons)

One barrel of crude oil, when refined, produces about 20 gallons of finished motor gasoline, and 7 gallons of diesel, as well as other petroleum products. Most of the petroleum products are used to produce energy. For instance, many people across the United States use propane to heat their homes and fuel their cars. Other products made from petroleum include: ink, crayons, bubble gum, dishwashing liquids, deodorant, eyeglasses, records, tires, ammonia, and heart valves.

For More Information About Fossil Fuels Click On The Links Below

• Oil shale

• Tar sands 

• Fossil Fuels

• Coal

• Natural gas

• Gasoline

credit: Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, World Coal institute, OPEC, Shell Oil company