Petroleum: What is it, Characteristics and Meanings



Petroleum

What is Petroleum:

Oil is a fossil hydrocarbon and one of the most used natural resources as a non-renewable energy source and raw material for the production of various products. It is also called crude or black gold.

Oil is found in its natural state, which is bituminous liquid, in some regions of the Earth, specifically, between the various layers of depth of the soil, both in the continental zone and in the deep sea.

It is considered one of the most valuable raw materials used by humans, hence the entire process of oil treatment, from its extraction to its multiple uses, affects the economy of all countries.

Origin of oil

Oil-extractionImage of a drilling machine used to extract oil.

Oil is of organic origin , it is a hydrocarbon that has been formed from a complex chemical and physical process experienced by the fossil remains and sediments that are accumulated in the various layers of the Earth.

This process is slow and occurs when the pressure and high temperatures that are concentrated in the earth's layers are capable of transforming significant amounts of organic matter from fossils deposited on the ground, including plant and animal matter, as well as plankton. , phytoplankton, zooplankton and algae, among others.

Therefore, these organic and rock sediments accumulating layer after layer for millions of years have been transformed into oil, even natural gas. This process still occurs today, however, it takes many years for these sediments to transform into oil.

Finally, depending on the geological characteristics of the soil, oil can rise to the surface thanks to the porosity of sediments and rocks.

However, in general, this hydrocarbon remains accumulated in the ground, giving rise to oil fields that are then drilled with special machinery, in order to extract the oil that will later be refined and transformed into various products or derivatives.

Oil characteristics

Below are the main characteristics of oil:

  • It is in an oily liquid state.
  • It is dark in color, however it may vary depending on the type of oil in question.
  • It has a slimy texture.
  • It is of organic origin composed of sediments and organic matter from animals and plants.
  • It is a mixture of hydrocarbons that contains different percentages of sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, paraffins, olefins, among others.
  • It is extracted through specialized drilling machines capable of reaching the oil fields that are found under several layers of the earth's crust, either on the continental shelves or on the seabed.
  • According to its density measurement, it can be classified into: light or light crude, medium crude, heavy crude and extra heavy crude.
  • Important derivatives and raw materials are obtained through the petrochemical and refining industry.
  • The use of petroleum derivatives has a high environmental impact because they accelerate the global warming process.
  • Oil spills in the seas generate oil slicks that are highly destructive to the marine ecosystem.

Oil uses

Evidence has been found that oil has been used by humans since approximately six thousand years ago in various Eastern communities such as the Babylonians, Assyrians and Egyptians, both for medicinal purposes, as well as to glue bricks and grease skins. Likewise, in pre-Columbian communities they used oil to paint figures and sculptures.

In the 9th century the first oil distillation was carried out by the Arab Al-Razi, from which different products for medicinal purposes and kerosene were obtained. Then, in the 19th century, oil refining began, from then on an oil was obtained that was useful for lighting services.

As the different utilities of petroleum products were discovered, greater was the concern for their extraction and refinement, in fact, the first oil well was drilled in 1859, in Pennsylvania.

Today there is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), founded on September 14, 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The purpose of this organization is to establish the levels of production and price of crude oil among the member countries. However, not all oil-producing countries are part of this organization.

Among the main oil exporters the following countries can be mentioned: Angola, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Norway, Russia, United States, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, among others.

Petroleum derivatives

Oil-gasolineGasoline is one of the most commercialized and used petroleum derivatives.

Through the various refining and distillation processes of oil or crude oil, the following derivative products can be obtained, among which the following stand out:

  • Fuels: liquid gasoline used for combustion motor vehicles and airplanes. For example, fuel oil, diesel or diesel.
  • Solvents: kerosene or kerosene, detergents, among others.
  • Lubricants: such as motor oil and greases.
  • Polyethylene: used to obtain plastics.
  • Plastics: to obtain paints, solvents, tires, polyester, among others.
  • Paraffins: used for the manufacture of candles, vaseline, drugs, among others.
  • Asphalt: for the construction and paving of land roads.
  • Naphtha: is part of fuels, and is a petroleum ether (solvent).
  • Natural gas: refers to hydrocarbon gases (butane, ethanol, propane), which are used for lighters and stoves.
    • Update date: March 9, 2021.

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Petroleum: What is it, Characteristics and Meanings
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