Petroleum
A fossil fuel central to modern industry and climate change.
Petroleum, also known as crude oil or simply oil, is a yellowish-black liquid chemical mixture found in geological formations, consisting primarily of hydrocarbons. It is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years from the anaerobic decay of prehistoric organisms, particularly plankton and algae, and is a non-renewable natural resource whose extraction, refining, and burning have major environmental and climate impacts.
- field
- Natural resource, fossil fuel
- known_for
- Primary source of fuels, plastics, and petrochemicals; key driver of industrialization and geopolitical conflicts
- formation_period
- Primarily Mesozoic (70%), Cenozoic (20%), Paleozoic (10%)
- global_consumption
- ~100 million barrels per day
Lore & Background
Petroleum has been used since ancient times. Over 4,300 years ago, the Sumerians used bitumen to make boats. In ancient China, oil was discovered, extracted, and used in the 1st century BCE, and the Chinese recorded its use as fuel as early as the 4th century BCE. In the 7th century, petroleum was an essential ingredient for Greek fire used by Byzantine Greeks. Persian chemists distilled crude oil, with descriptions in Arabic handbooks such as those of Abu Bakr al-Razi. In the 9th century, oil fields near modern Baku, Azerbaijan, were exploited, described by Marco Polo in the 13th century. Through Islamic Spain, distillation reached Western Europe by the 12th century.
Reader's Guide
Petroleum production played a key role in industrialization and economic development, especially after the Second Industrial Revolution. Some petroleum-rich countries, known as petrostates, gained significant economic and international influence during the latter half of the 20th century due to their control of oil production and trade. Petroleum is used to manufacture a wide variety of materials essential for modern life, including fuels, plastics, solvents, textiles, refrigerants, paint, synthetic rubber, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and thousands of other petrochemicals. However, petroleum is a non-renewable resource, and its exploitation is damaging to the natural environment, climate system, and human health. Extraction, refining, and burning of petroleum fuels release large quantities of greenhouse gases, making petroleum a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change. Other negative effects include oil spills and secondary pollution. Proximity to petroleum deposits and access to oil have historically fueled domestic and geopolitical conflicts, state-sanctioned oil wars, and diplomatic frictions. Global economic focus on climate change mitigation and the transition to renewable energy sources is expected to greatly reduce dependency on petroleum.
Did You Know?
- An estimated 70% of the world's oil deposits were formed during the Mesozoic era.
- The word petroleum comes from Medieval Latin, literally meaning 'rock oil'.
- More than 4,300 years ago, the Sumerians used bitumen to make boats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Petroleum in the Energy & Power series?
Petroleum is the yellowish-black fossil-fuel entry that acts as the backbone of modern liquid energy. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons trapped in geological formations, and its extraction and combustion drive much of the industrial and geopolitical plotlines.
What are Petroleum's powers and role?
Beyond powering vehicles and engines, Petroleum feeds the petrochemical industry, producing plastics, solvents, and a vast array of manufactured goods. This makes it far more than a simple fuel—it is the raw material behind a huge slice of everyday consumer products.
Why is Petroleum so important in the canon?
At roughly 100 million barrels consumed daily, it remains the single largest energy input in the global system. Its combustion is also a primary driver of climate change, making it central to both the industrial and environmental storylines.
Where does Petroleum come from?
It formed over millions of years from the anaerobic decay of ancient plankton and algae buried in sedimentary rock. The majority of deposits date to the Mesozoic era, with smaller contributions from the Cenozoic and Paleozoic periods.
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