Whilst fossil fuels such as oil and gas are popular sources of energy in these modern times, providing energy in the form of heating oil or LPG to thousands of off-grid homes throughout the UK and often taken for granted, oil has been around for centuries. We might not give it much thought as we fire up our central heating or fill up our cars, but people started using fossil fuels long before the first oil well was commercially drilled. And whilst crude oil, natural gas, and coal account for the majority of global energy use nowadays, the way these fossil fuels were used in ancient times before the technological advancements of the 20th century brought improved drilling techniques and refining processes as well as advanced transportation methods, was very different to how we use it now.
Oil is also known as petroleum - the word ‘petroleum’ is derived from Latin words ‘Petra’, meaning rock, and ‘oleum’, meaning oil, so petroleum means ‘rock oil’ in English, and its history runs deeper than we might think.
In this blog, we’re going to take a moment to explore the history of oil, when it was first used, which ancient civilisations used it and what for, where it came from and the change in it’s use over the centuries.
When was oil first used?
The history of oil spans back thousands of years - it is thought that some of the earliest civilisations relying heavily on oil dated as far back as around 4,000 BC. According to The Institute of Petroleum, (which merged with the Institute of Energy in 2003 to form the Energy Institute) humans first came across petroleum near the city of Hit, in Iraq, the site of an oil seep. Oil was used in Iraq, previously known as Mesopotamia, as well as by ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
From 'crude' beginnings
In ancient times, oil was obtained primarily from natural seepages through fissures in the earth, and from surface deposits. In certain areas such as those with abundant oil reserves, crude oil would seep to the surface. It would settle on the surface of pools and ponds where it could be scooped up, and in some cases, shallow pits were dug to collect the oil as it bubbled up. As the oil seeped up through the earth, asphalt, also known as bitumen, occurred as a residue.
In addition, it is thought that primitive drilling techniques were used, although these techniques were a far cry from what we see today. Archaeological evidence suggests that items such as bamboo poles and metal tools were used to dig shallow wells so oil could be extracted from underground deposits.
Versatile – even then!
Due to its versatility, crude oil was used for various purposes, with some of the earliest civilisations, such as the Sumerians who inhabited Mesopotamia, believed to have used it for water-proofing their boats. Bitumen, a thick form of oil, was used as caulking for ships and even to make clothing water-resistant.
Oil was also used in building construction to bond bricks – the walls of Babylon and even pyramids were held together with bitumen. Other uses included using it for setting jewels and mosaics, as a pigment in paint, and as an adhesive to secure weapon handles. Hard asphalt was even used to make blades for knives and arrowheads.
In some religions, crude oil was often burned as incense in religious ceremonies, and the Egyptians used oil for embalming in the preparation of mummies to help preserve corpses. It was even thought to have medical benefits and was used as a salve for wounds and skin ailments. In fact, Marco Polo said the first oil exported from Venezuela was intended to treat the Roman Emperor Charles V for gout.
During the medieval period, oil was used for lighting – although it was many years later when the kerosene lamp was invented in 1853, creating the first large-scale demand for the product.
The beginning of oil wells
Even though they weren’t the first to use oil, it’s thought that the Chinese were the first to drill for it. The earliest known oil wells were drilled many years later in China in 347 AD using bamboo poles. The wells were relatively shallow when compared to today’s wells, with depths of around 60 to 90 meters.
Commercialisation of production
Whilst oil had already been used for thousands of years in some capacity, the modern oil industry started in the mid-19th Century and marked the creation of major oil companies that still dominate the market today.
The Drake Well, drilled by Edwin Drake in Pennsylvania in 1859, marked the beginning of the modern petroleum industry. Drake struck oil at a depth of around 21 meters, and demonstrated the commercial potential of drilling on a large scale, producing around 25 barrels of oil a day initially, which soon increased significantly.
This was to pave the way for the global multi-million dollar oil industry as we know it today, and in acknowledgement of Drake’s accomplishments, the site was marked by a memorial, and today a museum is dedicated to the history of the Drake Well and Pennsylvania’s oil history.
Where we are today
Thanks to our ancestors and the innovation they brought forth with this versatile resource, from the crude beginnings when oil was first used in around 4,000 BC, millions of barrels of oil are now produced each year across numerous countries, with the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada, and China being some of the leading producers.
Oil extraction techniques have come a long way over the centuries and enable access to previously inaccessible oil reserves. Off-shore and conventional drilling, and fracking have helped boost production, which is influenced by various factors. OPEC, (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and its allies (OPEC+) play a key role in regulating oil production and influencing prices by coordinating supply increases when members deem prices are too high, and reducing supply in the market when the price is believed to be too low. However, in recent years, OPEC’s influence on the market has diminished due to increased production from non-OPEC countries such as the USA and Canada.
Nowadays, crude oil is a critical resource, has a variety of uses and is used to make all kinds of goods and everyday items, although the first things we tend to think it’s used for is running our vehicles and heating our homes. However, other than in transportation and energy production, oil is also used in manufacturing and the production of plastics, fertilisers, synthetic rubber and chemicals, as well as in road construction and maintenance, in agricultural pesticides and in cosmetic and cleaning products.
Looking to the future
Whilst there is increasing pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy due to climate change concerns, because of its versatility, crude oil is still indispensable in modern society and continues to dominate global markets.
Whilst the UK is aiming to hit net zero by 2050, and heat pumps are being championed by the government, the switch to heat pumps from domestic heating oil or LPG, which is a bi-product of crude oil and used in many homes and businesses throughout the UK, they are not suitable for every property. They have high installation costs and often there’s a need for additional insulation, underfloor heating and larger radiators, incurring additional expenses.
The industry in the UK is embracing the need for change, with trade associations OFTEC, and UKIFDA working hard to bring alternative renewable liquid fuels to the market.
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one of those renewable alternatives. A drop-in replacement fuel to traditional heating oil that is sustainable, it reduces carbon emissions by up to 90% when compared to home heating oil. Following successful trials of HVO by households in Cornwall, it is hoped it will be available to the 1.5 million UK households currently using traditional kerosene in the UK very soon, although at Northern Energy, we're already supplying HVO to businesses as an alternative to diesel. To find out more, give us a call on 01423 770 668.
Not forgetting LPG users
The great news is that greener options are also on their way for householders that use LPG, with renewable gases such as BioLPG and rDME. Both are drop-in solutions and can be used in existing boilers straight away.
So the future for off-grid homes and businesses looks bright, with an exciting range of renewable heating options on the way!