History of Crude Oil

History of crude oil can be traced to the first oil wells drilled in China in the 4^th century. They have depths of up to about 243 meters deep and were drilled using bits attached to bamboo poles. The oil was mainly used in salt production by burning it to evaporate salt-water to produce salt. However, crude oil current status as integral component of politics, society, and technology has its roots in the early 20^th century with the invention of internal combustion engine.

Now, let’s look at early and modern history of crude oil in detail:

Early history of crude oil

Early history of crude oil can be traced to more than four thousand years ago. Looking at it, it was believed that asphalt (product of crude oil) was employed in the construction of the walls and towers of ancient city of Babylon. Also, ancient Persian tablets indicate the medicinal and lighting uses crude oil in the upper levels of their society.

The ancient records of Asian countries are said to contain many reference to the use of natural gas for lighting and heating purposes. Around 7^th century, crude oil was known as burning water in Japan. It is also on record that streets of ancient Baghdad were paved with tar (product of crude oil) gotten from natural fields in the region. 9^th century Azerbaijan was not left out as it was also on record that oil fields were exploited in the area with production estimated as hundreds of shiploads.

Crude oil distillation became available in Western Europe by the 12^th century through Islamic Spain. Also, crude oil recorded as pacura has been present in Romania since the 13^th century.

The earlier history of crude oil in Americas was in 1858 when James Miller Williams in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada dug the first commercial oil well. This followed with the discovery of crude oil in 1859, near Titusville, Pennsylvania. The industry grew slowly in the 1800s, driven by the demand for kerosene and oil lamps.

Modern history of crude oil

The modern history of crude oil can be traced to the 19^th century growth in demand for petroleum as a fuel for lighting in North America and around the world. It actually began with the process to distill kerosene from crude oil. Looking at it, it all started in 1847 when James Young noticed a natural seepage in Ridding colliery at Alfreton, Derbyshire from which he distilled light thin oil suitable for use as lamp oil, and at the same time obtaining thicker oil suitable for lubricating machinery. He subsequently set up a small business refining the crude oil in 1848.

The subsequent increase in demand for refined petroleum prompted considerable search for crude oil. Looking at it, an early commercial well was hand dug in Poland in 1853 and another in nearby Romania in 1857. At around the same time the world's first, small, oil refinery was opened at Jasło in Poland, with a larger one opened at Ploiesti in Romania shortly after. In 1857, Romania became the first country in the world to have had crude oil output officially recorded at 275 tonnes.

The first most modern crude oil well was drilled near Titusville, Pennsylvania by Edwin Drake in 1859. However, it is on record that the first commercial oil well in Canada became operational in 1858 at Oil Spring, Ontario. Actually, the discovery at Oil Springs started an oil boom which brought hundreds of investors and workers to the area.

Advances in drilling continued into 1862 when local driller Shaw reached a depth of 62 metres using the spring-pole drilling method. After an explosion of natural gas in Canada on January 16, 1862 its first oil gusher came into production shooting into the air at a recorded rate of 3,000 barrels per day. By the end of the 19th century the Russian Empire, particularly the Branobel company in Azerbaijan, had taken the lead in production. Oil exploration in North America during the early 20th century later led to the U.S. becoming the leading producer by mid-century. As petroleum production in the U.S. peaked during the 1960s, however, the United States was surpassed by Saudi Arabia and the Soviet Union.

In essence, history of crude oil can first be traced to 7000 years of trying to find its uses, the period it was known to burn well than other source of oil to the 19^th century discovery of modern drilling technology which led to commercial production and other large scale uses of refined crude oil products.