Oil Age
Encyclopedia
The Age of Oil, also known as the Oil Age or the Petroleum Age, refers to the era in human history characterised by an increased use of petroleum
in products and as fuel. Though unrefined petroleum
has been used for various purposes since ancient times, it was during the 19th century that refinement techniques were developed and gasoline engines were created. The oil age is commonly thought of as beginning, however, in 1901 with the strike at Spindletop
, near Beaumont, Texas
in the United States
which launched large scale oil production and soon made the petroleum products widely available. Other earlier dates which are sometimes used as start dates include 1846 (Abraham Gesner invents kerosene
making coal and petroleum practical raw materials for lighting fuel), 1859 (Edwin Drake
invents the first modern drilling process for deep oil wells), and 1879 (Karl Benz
produces the first practical gasoline-powered automobile).
Since the 1960s and 1970s, when petroleum production peaked in many industrialized nations, a frequent topic of speculation among scholars has been when worldwide production will peak, as well as when and how the oil age will ultimately end. According to some definitions the age is defined as ending at the point where consumption outstrips the decreasing production making its use unprofitable or impossible. With the dawning of the so-called Atomic Age
many observers in the mid 20th century had believed that the Oil Age was rapidly coming to an end. However, the rapid change to atomic power envisioned during this period never materialized.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
in products and as fuel. Though unrefined petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
has been used for various purposes since ancient times, it was during the 19th century that refinement techniques were developed and gasoline engines were created. The oil age is commonly thought of as beginning, however, in 1901 with the strike at Spindletop
Spindletop
Spindletop is a salt dome oil field located in the southern portion of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. The Spindletop dome was derived from the Louann Salt evaporite layer of the Jurassic geologic period. On January 10, 1901, a well at Spindletop struck oil . The new oil field soon produced...
, near Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which launched large scale oil production and soon made the petroleum products widely available. Other earlier dates which are sometimes used as start dates include 1846 (Abraham Gesner invents kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
making coal and petroleum practical raw materials for lighting fuel), 1859 (Edwin Drake
Edwin Drake
Edwin Laurentine Drake , also known as Colonel Drake, was an American oil driller, popularly credited with being the first to drill for oil in the United States.-Early life:...
invents the first modern drilling process for deep oil wells), and 1879 (Karl Benz
Karl Benz
Karl Friedrich Benz, was a German engine designer and car engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered car, and together with Bertha Benz pioneering founder of the automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz...
produces the first practical gasoline-powered automobile).
Since the 1960s and 1970s, when petroleum production peaked in many industrialized nations, a frequent topic of speculation among scholars has been when worldwide production will peak, as well as when and how the oil age will ultimately end. According to some definitions the age is defined as ending at the point where consumption outstrips the decreasing production making its use unprofitable or impossible. With the dawning of the so-called Atomic Age
Atomic Age
The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is a phrase typically used to delineate the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear bomb Trinity on July 16, 1945...
many observers in the mid 20th century had believed that the Oil Age was rapidly coming to an end. However, the rapid change to atomic power envisioned during this period never materialized.