Early uses of petroleum

Early uses of petroleum

Petroleum in an unrefined state has been utilized by humans for over 5000 years. Ancient Persian language tablets indicate the medicinal and lighting uses of petroleum in the upper echelons of their society. Ancient China was also known to burn skimmed oil for light.

The early 19th century ushered in petroleum's usefulness as a medicine and lubricant; other successful uses included lighting and heating. A petroleum industry emerged in North America in Canada and the United States, fueling the industrial revolution.

External links

* [http://www.petroleumhistory.ca/ Petroleum history]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Petroleum — For other uses, see Petroleum (disambiguation). Proven world oil reserves, 2009 …   Wikipedia

  • Petroleum seep — For other uses of seep see Seep (disambiguation) Petroleum seep near the Korňa in northern Slovakia. A petroleum seep is a place where natural liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons escape to the earth s atmosphere and surface, normally under low… …   Wikipedia

  • petroleum refining — Introduction  conversion of crude oil into useful products. History Distillation of kerosene and naphtha       The refining of crude petroleum owes its origin to the successful drilling of the first oil well in Titusville, Pa., in 1859. Prior to… …   Universalium

  • History of the petroleum industry in Canada — The Canadian petroleum industry arose in parallel with that of the United States. Because of Canada s unique geography, geology, resources and patterns of settlement, however, it developed in quite different ways. The evolution of the petroleum… …   Wikipedia

  • History of the petroleum industry in North America — The history of the petroleum industry in North America began nearly simultaneously in Canada and the United States. PetroliaNorth America s oil industry was born in 1858 when James Miller Williams built the first successful oil well on a deposit… …   Wikipedia

  • Early thermal weapons — were devices or substances used in warfare during the classical and medieval periods (approx 8th century BC until the mid 16th century AD) which used heat or burning action to destroy or damage enemy personnel, fortifications or territories.… …   Wikipedia

  • petroleum production — Introduction       recovery of crude oil and, often, associated natural gas from the Earth.        petroleum is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon material that is believed to have formed in deep sedimentary (sedimentary rock) beds from animal and …   Universalium

  • History of the petroleum industry in Canada (oil sands and heavy oil) — Canada s oil sands and heavy oil resources are among the world s great petroleum deposits. They include the vast oil sands of northern Alberta, and the heavy oil reservoirs that surround the small city of Lloydminster, which sits on the border… …   Wikipedia

  • History of the petroleum industry in Canada (natural gas liquids) — Canada s natural gas liquids industry dates back to the discovery of wet natural gas at Turner Valley, Alberta in 1914. The gas was less important than the natural gasoline skunk gas it was called, because of its distinctive odour that early… …   Wikipedia

  • History of the petroleum industry in Canada (frontier exploration and development) — discoveries took place near population centres or along lines of penetration into the frontier. The first oil play, for example, was in southern Ontario. The first western natural gas discovery occurred on a Canadian Pacific Railway right of way …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”