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HISTORY OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
Although oil was used to keep fires ablaze in early human history,
its importance in the world economy evolved slowly. Wood and coal
were used to heat and cook with, while whale oil was used for
light. The black, smelly, thick liquid is referred to as tar or rock oil
was only seen as a substance to avoid.
When the whaling industry hunted the sperm whale almost to extinction
and the Industrial Revolution needed a fuel to run generators and
engines, a new source of energy was needed. In the search for new
products, it was discovered that from crude oil or petroleum,
kerosene could be extracted and used as a light and heating fuel.
Petroleum was in demand at the end of the 1800's. The search for finding
"black gold" was on!
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Capturing sperm whale for oil
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