Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from geological beds.
Petroleum is a natural oily liquid that is formed by a mixture of hydrocarbons . It is obtained from geological beds, whether continental or maritime. The term comes from the Latin petrolĕum , which in turn derives from a Greek word meaning “rock oil” ,
Specifically, we can also point out that oil, also known as crude oil, is generated in what would be the interior of the Earth . Other of its most significant characteristics are that it can be black or yellow in color and that it has a viscosity that can reach 95 g/ml.
Oil is flammable and, through various distillation and refining processes, it can produce naphtha , diesel , kerosene and other products that are used for energy purposes.
Use of oil throughout history
The first records of the use of petroleum date back some 6,000 years, when the Assyrians and Babylonians used it to glue bricks and in medicine . The Egyptians used petroleum to grease hides, while pre-Columbian Indians used it to paint sculptures.
The first distillation of petroleum is believed to have taken place in the 9th century , when the Arab Al-Razi obtained kerosene and other distillates for use in medicine and in the military . From the 19th century onwards, the refining of petroleum to obtain fluid oils that could be used in lighting became popular.
Petroleum is used to produce fuel.
OPEC
In addition to all of the above, it is worth highlighting the existence of what is known as OPEC ( Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ). It was launched in 1960 , currently based in Vienna , and its main objective is to unify the oil policies of the different nations that form part of it.
At this time, we can say that this entity is made up of the following member countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Venezuela, Angola, Nigeria, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and the United Arab Emirates .
Oil, a non-renewable energy source
Oil is a non- renewable energy source: this means that once it is exhausted, it can no longer be obtained under any circumstances. Statistics show that, if the current rate of extraction continues and no new deposits are found, the world's oil reserves will be exhausted in less than fifty years.
Although this would pose a serious problem for humanity , the truth is that oil is a polluting material (its combustion produces CO2, for example) and difficult to clean since it is insoluble in water.
The term in different expressions
It is interesting to note the fact that there are expressions that use the word petroleum in their formation. A clear example of this is the oil well , which is the drilling that is carried out in the earth in order to find the aforementioned mixture.
We cannot ignore the existence of colloquial expressions that use the term we are analyzing. This would be the case of the verbal expression «sweat oil» . What is meant by this is that someone is having serious problems, especially of an economic nature.