Petro Data Mgt III- Facilities Petroleum Professor Collins Nwaneri

Introduction History about the origin of Oil: The first oil well discovery was drilled by colonial Edwin Drake in 1859 in northwestern Pennsylvania. The wells were shallow at less than 50 meters deep and produced oil were collected in wooden tanks. After the oil discovery, oil replaced most other fuels for motorized transportation. The automobile industry which was developed at the end of the 19th century, adopted oil as fuel. Gasoline oil was essential for successful aircraft engine design. Ships driven by oil moved twice as fast as their coal powered counterparts. Gas was burned off or left in the ground.

Introduction Pipelines were constructed to natural gas and the petrochemical industry increased production. Refineries were built to divide the crude in fractions. Gasoline from crude was about 10 -40 % a century ago and with modern refineries, it can be up to about 70 % due to advanced reforming and cracking processes. Afterwards, came the petrochemical industry at around the 1940’s, and chemicals were derived from petroleum and natural gas. Thereafter, plastics, rubber and several household goods were developed, amongst other products to date.