Interesting facts about oil and gas (23 photos). Interesting facts about oil and gas (23 photos) Oil once saved the whales from complete extinction

Will our generation witness the decline of the oil market? It's possible, but for now Faktrum invites its readers to learn more about oil and oil products.

1. During World War I, aircraft used castor oil as an engine lubricant. Due to the fact that the remains of unburned castor oil were thrown out of the exhaust pipe, pilots often suffered from diarrhea.
2. America gets more oil from Canada and Mexico than from all countries in the Middle East combined.
3. Norwegian oil company Statoil put one of its platforms up for sale with the following ad: “A well maintained 20 bedroom platform with panoramic sea views is for sale. There is also enough space for a helicopter.”
4. In Turkmenistan, every driver receives 120 free liters of gasoline per month.
5. The average annual salary for an oil rig worker was around $100,000 in 2011.
6. Beverly Hills High School in California has 19 oil wells on its campus. The school earns about US$300,000 a year.
7. Diesel engines were named after their inventor, not the fuel. In fact, some of the first diesel engines ran on peanut butter.
8. The United States accounts for almost half of the world's oil consumption.
9. Russia produces about a million barrels more oil daily than Saudi Arabia.
10. In 2010, London-based broker Steve Perkins, while heavily drunk, accidentally bought more than $500 million worth of oil. He single-handedly managed to lower world oil prices to an 8-month high.
11. According to World Organization health, diesel fuel is more carcinogenic than cigarettes.
12. Norway has some of the highest gasoline prices in the world. The proceeds are used to provide free education and improve infrastructure.
13. Even if all US corn and soybean production were concentrated in biofuel production, this would only satisfy about 10% of fuel demand.
14. The engine room of the battleship USS Arizona, which was sunk in 1941 at Pearl Harbor, still leaks fuel, forming a stain on the surface of the water above the ship.
15. Despite the fact that the US spent nearly $700 billion on the Iraq war, all oil contracts were bought by other countries. This came as a surprise to many people, but America was almost the only country that did not benefit from oil reserves Iraq.
16. From the oil pipeline in Ecuador flowed into rainforests The Amazon has more oil than the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker accident in Alaska.
17. Since there was a problem in remote areas of Australia with local Aborigines who snorted gasoline to achieve a state of euphoria, Opal brand gasoline (virtually devoid of chemical impurities) began to be used in the country.
18. Oil drilling involves the process of drilling a well and pumping air into it. After the oil layer is reached, the oil begins to literally gush into the sky.
19. Over the past 25 years, there have been nearly two dozen oil spills in the US. These are very large-scale ecological disasters.
20. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, estimated at almost 300 billion barrels. The US ranks 10th with 33 billion barrels.
21. Oil has always been important to civilization. Ancient cultures used it to bond materials and also as a waterproof sealant.

It is no coincidence that today such a mineral as oil is called black gold or even “the blood of modern civilization”. Almost everything is made from oil: from film to plastic goggles for swimming. We have collected 14 most interesting facts about oil and oil production:

1. 1. What does the word "oil" mean?

In Russian, the word oil came from Turkish (from the word oil), which comes from the Persian naft, and which in turn was borrowed from the Semitic languages. Akkadian (Assyrian) word nartn"oil" comes from a Semitic verbal root npt with the original meaning "spew, spew."

There are other versions of the meaning of the word oil. For example, according to some sources, the word oil comes from the Akkadian napatum, which means "flare, ignite," according to others - from the ancient Iranian naft, meaning "something wet, liquid."

But, for example, the Chinese, the first, by the way, who drilled an oil well back in 347 AD, called and still call oil - shi yo, which literally means "mountain oil".

English word petroleum, which the Americans and the British call crude oil, also, by the way, means "mountain oil" and comes from the Greek petra (mountain) and the Latin oleum (oil).

2. 2. Where did commercial oil production begin?

World history industrial production oil began in 1848 in Azerbaijan. The mention of oil production in the suburbs of Baku refers to V century AD. Oil is everywhere here. In some places in this area, you don’t even need to drill anything - the oil itself forms puddles on the surface.

3. 3. Where does the "eternal fire" coming from the sacred mountain Yanadarg come from?

Here, in the suburbs of Baku, the most famous of the volcanoes, Yanadarg, known as the Burning Mountain, is located. From its bowels emerges natural gas, which has been burning for several centuries, but the fire does not go beyond the mountain.There is always a strong smell of gas in the air.Natural gas rises through cracks in the rock and comes to the surface unaided.

4. 4. How is an oil field formed?

Oil seeps into layers of loose sandstone or fractured limestone, and may even move to soak into layers like water soaks into a sponge. In the course of geological processes, horizontal layers are bent, and oil begins to migrate more actively along them. Due to the fact that at depth the pressure is greater than at the surface, oil does not flow down, but, on the contrary, tends to rise. Once in such a fold, oil cannot leave it. Geologists call such a structure a "hydrocarbon trap", in which a huge amount of oil accumulates, forming a deposit. The presence of a trap is the first condition for the formation of a deposit.

5. 5. Is it true that Edwin Drake, who first proposed drilling the earth for oil, was considered crazy?

Outside of Russia, the first oil well was drilled in 1859 in the United States by Colonel Edwin Drake in the vicinity of Titusville, Pennsylvania, the general representative of the Seneca Oil Company. Due to attempts to use drilling to find and extract oil locals thought Drake was crazy. In addition, Drake, by his own account, invented the casing pipe, "without which no one could drill in the lowlands where the earth is flooded."

6. 6. When did oil production begin in Russia?

In Russia, until the middle of the 19th century, oil was extracted from Absheron Peninsula from wells, and already on July 14, 1848, in the town of Bibi-Heybat, the world's first oil well was drilled using a percussive method using wooden rods.

In 1900, 631.1 million poods of oil were produced in Russia, which accounted for 51.6% of the total world oil production.At that time, oil production was carried out in 10 countries: Russia, the USA, the Dutch East Indies, Romania, Austria-Hungary, India, Japan, Canada, Germany, Peru. At the same time, the main oil-producing countries were Russia and the United States, which together accounted for more than 90% of all world oil production.

The peak of oil production in Russia occurred in 1901, when 706.3 million poods of oil were produced (50.6% of world production). After that, due to the economic crisis and falling demand, oil production in Russia began to decline. The price of oil, which in 1900 amounted to 16 kopecks. per pood, in 1901, due to an overabundance of supply, it fell by 2 times to 8 kopecks. for a pud. In 1902, the price was 7 kopecks. per pood, after which there was a tendency to restore demand and volumes of oil production. This trend was interrupted by the revolution of 1905, which was accompanied by arson and the general destruction of the Baku oil fields.

7. 7. How is oil exploration carried out?

The lines along which oil exploration is carried out are called "profiles". The data obtained from each profile allows you to build a section rocks, on which all underground structures will be clearly visible. If geophysicists find a "hydrocarbon trap", then most likely there will be a field.

Most effective method oil exploration - seismic exploration. The principle of this method is similar to medical ultrasound. In doctors, the device generates ultrasonic waves that are reflected from the tissues internal organs. A sensitive microphone picks up these reflections, and the computer produces a picture. Geologists have almost the same thing: in order to see the bowels, you must first create an impulse that will be reflected from the underground layers. At the surface, it must be captured and then measured to obtain an image of the earth's thickness.

8. 8. What is a seismic vibrator and how does it work?

Seismovibrator- This is a truck that is designed to excite longitudinal seismic vibrations. Their task is to create a powerful impulse that will be reflected from underground layers, and will be recorded by a seismic receiver. Previously, explosives were used for this, but seismic vibrators are more convenient, safer and do no harm. environment.

A group of seismic vibrators must move exactly along the profile on which the geophones are installed. After every 100 m, the seismic vibrators stop to give out a powerful vibration impulse. The support platform is lowered, lifting the 20-ton machine. At this time, a signal from a seismic station arrives in the driver's cab.

The car starts to "bounce" 80 times per second. It is not visible to the eye, but it is reflected on the ground. Each pulse is equivalent to 40 grams of TNT. It turns out that in 4 seconds a total impulse with a power of almost 12 kg of TNT goes into the ground! Seismic sensors begin to record vibrations. Inside each seismic sensor there is a magnet, which is surrounded by a coil with a thin wire, freely suspended on a spring. The incoming wave shakes the body of the receiver along with the magnet, and the coil begins to move. The magnetic field induces an alternating voltage in it, repeating the shape of the oscillations. The electrical signal from the receiver is transmitted to the seismic station.

9. 9. Is it true that oil can be used to embalm the dead?

AT Ancient Egypt oil was used to embalm the dead. In those days, petroleum bitumen was used to embalm mummies and to cover boats.

10. Is it true that oil can be used as medicine?

In 1874, the principle of producing salicylic acid from phenol was discovered, and since then acetylsalicylic acid, or simply "aspirin", has become one of the most popular medicines in the world. Everyone knows that aspirin has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In addition, the antiseptic phenyl salicylate, used to treat colitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, and para-aminosalicylic acid, used in anti-tuberculosis drugs, are produced from salicylic acid.

Various oil derivatives are used in drugs that help people get rid of allergies, headaches, nervous stress or infectious diseases. Esters and alcohols are often used in the production of antibiotics.

11. What legend tells about the discovery of the healing properties of Naftalan oil?

An interesting legend about how they were discovered healing properties naftalan oil. Many centuries ago, a trade caravan passed by the place where the city of Naftalan is located today. There, travelers saw numerous lakes with muddy water. They drove their camels away from suspicious reservoirs, but one, the weakest and sickest, was allowed to get drunk and stay to die so that he would no longer suffer. On the way back, the caravaners met an abandoned companion - the camel was completely healthy. He was helped by an oily liquid, which was under the turbidity of the water. People smeared their wounds with it and were healed.

12. Is it true that oil can save humanity from starvation?

Oil can save humanity not only from disease, but also from hunger. Processing only 2% of the volume of oil produced annually makes it possible to produce up to 25 million tons of protein. This is enough to feed 2 billion people for a year. This protein is used in the production of a wide variety of products, and replaces animal protein, which is sorely lacking to meet the needs of the ever-growing population of our planet.

12. 13. Why are Saudi sheikhs so rich?

Saudi Aramco is a national company that produces oil in Saudi Arabia and wholly owned by the state. This company is the world's largest oil company in terms of oil production.

Do you know how much it costs Saudi Aramco to produce one barrel of oil?

Forbes magazine knows this. Here is what he writes (in my rather loose translation):

Saudi Aramco is the most profitable company on the planet. It does not fully disclose its financial figures, but a rough approximation of its net income is $200 billion a year with annual income in excess of $350 billion. Last year, Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi told reporters that on average, the A barrel of oil in Saudi Arabia is $2. This barrel of oil is sold for $130. If you pass the same barrel of oil through the complex petrochemical plant it will easily bring in 500 dollars of income.

For comparison: in the Russian oil company Rosneft, the cost of producing one barrel of oil averages $14.57. And taking into account the costs of exploration, drilling of wells and modernization of the refinery, it turns out to be $21 per barrel.

14. Why does an increase in oil prices lead to a change in the dollar and an increase in prices for all goods?

What if the price of oil goes up? Even if it grows many times, and after it the price of gasoline, it would seem, what does an ordinary person care about this? You can walk to work or ride a bike.

And here's the thing: once upon a time there was a dollar. For him they gave 35 rubles. Thus, at an oil price of $100 per barrel, the country's budget received conditionally 3,500 rubles. However, then the price of oil began to fall, and with an oil price of $50 per barrel, the country's budget began to receive conditionally 1,750 rubles at a constant ruble exchange rate. Thus, there is a shortage of money in the budget and a deficit arises, and the ruble exchange rate weakens to compensate for the shortfall in the budget. As a result, in order to get the same 3,500 rubles from 1 barrel of oil at a price of $50 per barrel, the exchange rate should be about 70 rubles per dollar. http://mirnefti.ru/index.php?id=21

This material is a private record of a member of the Club.CNews community.
The editors of CNews are not responsible for its content.

3 years ago

Oil in modern world is a very important resource. Without it, the production of various goods is impossible, and wars are fought for control of the oil market. This review contains little-known and simply interesting facts about oil and gas.

The chemist Thomas Midgley was the first to put forward the idea that adding lead to gasoline would reduce engine knock. Some say this discovery caused more environmental damage than anything else in the world.

Gasoline prices in the US are twice as low as those in the EU.

America gets more oil from Canada and Mexico than from all the countries in the Middle East combined.

Norwegian oil company Statoil put one of its platforms up for sale with the following ad: “A well maintained 20 bedroom platform with panoramic sea views is for sale. There is also enough space for a helicopter.”

The average annual salary for an oil rig worker was around $100,000 in 2011.

During World War I, aircraft used castor oil as an engine lubricant. Due to the fact that the remains of unburned castor oil were thrown out of the exhaust pipe, pilots often suffered from diarrhea.

Beverly Hills High School in California has 19 oil wells on its campus. The school earns about US$300,000 a year.

Diesel engines were named after their inventor, not the fuel. In fact, some of the first diesel engines ran on peanut butter.

The United States accounts for almost half of the world's oil consumption.

In Turkmenistan, every driver receives 120 free liters of gasoline per month.

Russia produces about 1 million barrels more oil daily than Saudi Arabia.

In 2010, London-based broker Steve Perkins, while heavily drunk, accidentally bought more than $500 million worth of oil. He single-handedly managed to lower world oil prices to an 8-month high.

According to the World Health Organization, diesel fuel is more carcinogenic than cigarettes.

Norway has some of the highest gasoline prices in the world. The proceeds are used to provide free education and improve infrastructure.

Even if all US corn and soybean production were concentrated in biofuel production, this would only satisfy about 10% of fuel demand.

The engine room of the battleship USS Arizona, which was sunk in 1941 at Pearl Harbor, still leaks fuel, forming a stain on the surface of the water above the ship.

Despite the fact that the US spent nearly $700 billion on the Iraq war, all oil contracts were bought by other countries. This came as a surprise to many people, but America was almost the only country that did not benefit from Iraq's oil reserves.

An oil pipeline in Ecuador has leaked more oil into the Amazon rainforest than the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

Since there was a problem in remote areas of Australia with local Aborigines who snorted gasoline to achieve a state of euphoria, Opal brand gasoline (virtually devoid of chemical impurities) began to be used in the country.

Oil drilling involves the process of drilling a well and pumping air into it. After the oil layer is reached, the oil begins to literally gush into the sky.

Over the past 25 years, there have been nearly two dozen oil spills in the US.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, estimated at almost 300 billion barrels. The US ranks 10th with 33 billion barrels.

Oil has always been important to civilization. Ancient cultures used it to bond materials and also as a waterproof sealant.

In our country, oil is the main natural resource on which the entire Russian economy is currently based. But there are interesting facts about oil that you most likely do not even know. It is about them that we will tell you in detail in this article.

Meaning of the word

The Russian word "oil" was borrowed from Turkish, who in turn adopted this word from Persian, which originated from the Semitic languages. The Assyrian word naptn comes from the Semitic word nptc, the original meaning of which is "spew" or "spew" (from the Arabic naft - "spewed" or "spewed out").

An interesting fact about oil is that the word "oil" has other meanings. For example, according to some historical data, the word comes from the Akkadian word napatum, the meaning of which is "flare", "ignite". There is also a version that Russian word"oil" comes from the ancient Iranian naft, which means "wet substance", "liquid".

An interesting version of the origin of this liquid

This interesting fact about oil will seem strange to many experts in the oil business, but among the inhabitants and people not connected with this industry, there is an opinion that oil was formed from the remains of ancient animals and, in particular, dinosaurs.

In a sense, this theory is correct - deposits mineral matter really formed from the remains of ancient living beings. However, these were creatures much smaller than dinosaurs. Some scientists believe that this combustible liquid came from such source material as microorganisms and marine plankton that inhabited the deep sea and coastal regions of the Earth.

Do you think that there are oil rivers and seas underground?

Many experts in this field are surprised when they hear this unusual, but very interesting fact about oil from people who have nothing to do with the extraction of this substance. It turns out that many people think that oil rivers and lakes flow underground.

This is one of the many misconceptions that people who do not know anything about oil and its production sin. Naturally, no rivers and lakes exist in nature. The entire earth's crust consists of rocks of varying density and chemical composition. Oil, gas, water are a kind of constituents of rocks that are able to contain substances with a liquid composition, called fluids. These rocks are called reservoirs and can contain both solid and liquid components.

Oil is not a product of the industrial revolution

For children, an interesting fact about oil may be that it began to be used not with the advent of cars, but even in ancient times. In ancient Babylon, a derivative of this substance (bitumen) was used to seal buildings and build maritime merchant ships. And such a product from oil as tar was first used in the VIII century in Arabia for the construction of roads. In ancient Egypt, and then in Ancient Greece lamps were used to illuminate the premises, for which oil served as fuel.

In the Byzantine Empire, with the help of a "combustible mixture", the basis for which was again oil, the soldiers terrified the enemy, because the mixture burned even more when trying to put it out with water. The original recipe for the "combustible mixture" has been lost, but scientists suggest that it was a mixture of processed products and other combustible substances.

Oil once saved whales from extinction

One of the most interesting facts about oil is that once, thanks to the discovery of the properties of this natural resource, whales have not completely disappeared as a species. Some two centuries ago, whale oil was at a high price and was actively used. Its ability to burn slowly without emitting an unpleasant odor was noticed by people in ancient times. used in all areas of human life - for lubricating watch movements, covering the first photographs, pharmacology, light and cosmetic industries.

As you might guess, by the middle of the 19th century, the whale population had almost disappeared from the face of the earth. Fortunately, people began to use cheaper kerosene, which also burned without leaving an unpleasant odor, and its extraction was much more humane than whale hunting. In the US whaling fleet, for example, in 1846 there were about 735 ships, and by 1879 there were only 39 of them. By the beginning of the 20th century, whale hunting was practically stopped, as its unprofitability and cruelty became obvious to society.

The only area of ​​application of whale oil in the modern world is space research and experiments. Subcutaneous fat of sperm whales discovered amazing property don't freeze when colossally low temperatures that dominate in outer space. That's why whale oil is the perfect lubricant for spare parts. spaceships.

Useless and cheap gasoline. Is this even possible?

The thing about oil is that gasoline was not initially of interest to either producers or consumers. The main product of oil refining was kerosene, which was used for lighting fixtures. Passenger cars were not yet common, people traveled mainly on horseback, and locomotives and trains were used for long distances. Demand for gasoline increased sharply in the 1930s and 1940s; at the beginning, gasoline had practically no value. The only use of gasoline is in the treatment of head lice (lice infestation), paint thinner and the removal of stubborn stains from clothing. Sometimes corporations depreciated gasoline so much that they simply poured it into rivers.

UAE and Russia: a fundamental difference. Interesting about oil in two different countries

Over time, the complex and costly technology for extracting this natural oily combustible liquid has been greatly facilitated and automated. Saudi Aramco is the national oil production and refining company in Saudi Arabia. It is wholly owned by the state and works to increase its well-being. This oil giant is one of the largest oil producing concerns in the world.

I wonder how much it costs this company to produce one barrel of oil? Now we'll find out.

According to Forbes magazine, the situation looks like this: Saudi Aramco is the company with the largest profit in the oil market. According to the most conservative estimates (and this despite the fact that it does not fully advertise its financial performance), its income is approximately $200 billion (approximately 13.4 trillion rubles) per year, with a total annual income of about $350 billion (approximately 23.4 trillion rubles). rubles). The minister of this oil company (Ali Al-Naimi) said in an interview that the cost of oil production, and specifically one barrel of oil in Saudi Arabia, is approximately two dollars (133.8 rubles). And the wholesale price of the sale is about 130 dollars (about 8,700 rubles). After passing through all stages of processing and entering the plant, the income from the sale of one barrel of the substance is approximately $500 (about 33,450 rubles).

Compared to Russia, the picture is as follows: the Russian oil company Rosneft spends about $15 (1,000 rubles) on the extraction of one barrel of oil. If we add to this the cost of exploration, drilling and other expenses, then the price of production of one barrel is approximately $21 (1,400 rubles).

The position of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century

An interesting fact about oil production in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century is that in 1900 the total amount of oil produced in the Russian Empire amounted to 631.1 million poods of oil. This is 51.6% of the total amount mined in the world.

At that time, oil was produced in 10 countries: Russian empire, USA, Holland, Romania, Austria-Hungary, India, Japan, Canada, Germany, Peru. The main share of flammable liquid production was in Russia and the USA, which produced about 90% of the world volume.

The most successful year for Russia in terms of oil production was 1901, when 706.3 million poods of oil were produced, which accounted for 50.6% of total flammable liquid mined in the world. After that, there was a decline, when demand decreased, and there were more offers. In 1900, the price for one pood of oil was 16 kopecks per pood, and in 1901 it fell by 2 times to 8 kopecks per pood. In 1902, the price of one pood of oil was already 7 kopecks per pood, after which there was a tendency to increase the price. The revolution of 1905 crossed out this success.

Relationship between the increase in oil prices and the cost of other goods

How does rising oil prices affect our lives? In addition to the obvious rise in gasoline prices, no fatal consequences are visible at first glance. The obvious and most important disadvantage in the increase in oil prices for ordinary person- possible need to transfer to public transport or a bicycle.

An interesting chemical fact about oil is that it is used not only as a raw material for fuel, but also as a basis for obtaining many chemical substances, which are part of the things that are quite ordinary for us, standing on store shelves. Did you know that the shower gel and shampoo you use contain refined petroleum products?

Accordingly, an increase in the price of this substance entails an increase in prices in stores. The opinions of experts are divided - some believe that the rise in prices will continue, while others consider the increase in prices due to problems with oil trade and oil production to be a temporary phenomenon.

Inelastic demand

The obvious fact about oil is that it is a non-renewable source of energy. Accordingly, scientists have a question: "Is it possible the complete disappearance of oil reserves from the bowels of our planet?".

Apart from a very vague threat complete disappearance oil, there is a more immediate danger in the oil sector. It lies in the so-called inelastic demand for oil. Its essence lies in the fact that a small reduction in the production of a substance can lead to a sharp rise in prices for it. The oil crisis in the oil production market in the 1970s was caused precisely by a 25% drop in supply. Because of this, prices for natural combustible liquid rose by 400%. If oil production reaches its peak, then the decline is natural; accordingly, a global economic crisis in the global economy.

There are several versions of the etymology of the word "oil". Some scientists believe that it comes from the Turkish "neft", which, in turn, took its origins from the Assyrian "nartn" - "erupted", "spewed out". Others argue that the word "oil" comes from the Akkadian "napatum" - "flare". Still others lean towards the ancient Iranian "naft" - "something wet." The question of the origin of oil has only one correct answer: billions of plankton, dying, settle to the bottom, where they become covered with silt and decompose, form a viscous mass, which, under the influence of temperature and pressure, becomes oil.

Here are 10 facts about oil, many of which may surprise you.

1. Oil has been used for over 6,000 years

People have been familiar with oil since ancient times: already in Babylon, bitumen was used to build buildings and ships. Starting from the 8th century, tar was used in the construction of roads in Baghdad. And in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, oil served as fuel for lamps and illuminated houses and streets.

2. Oil saved the whales

In the 19th century, whale oil was used for lighting lamps, candle making, lubricating clockwork, as a protective coating for photographs, and so on. The increase in demand has led to the almost complete extinction of these animals. But thanks to the appearance of kerosene, obtained in the process of oil refining, the need for whale oil has decreased, and whale hunting has almost completely stopped, as it has lost its economic benefit.

3. Gasoline was once very cheap.

Before cars became a popular means of transportation, kerosene was the target product of petroleum refining. Gasoline had a low price and was not in demand. It was used exclusively as a lice treatment or as a solvent to clean grease stains from fabrics.

4. In 1901, Russia produced more than half of the world's oil production

Oil production in Russia reached its peak in 1901 - 706.3 million pounds, which accounted for 50.6% of world oil production. The price of oil, due to an excess of demand, began to decline and, compared with 1900, fell by 2 times - 8 kopecks per pood. After 1902, there was a tendency to restore consumption, interrupted by the revolution of 1905, accompanied by massive destruction of oil fields.

5. The most unexpected products are created from oil.

Today, many products on the market are the result of oil refining. Among them: lipstick and eyeliner, which includes propylene glycol and coal tar dyes, crease-resistant polyester clothing, chewing gum made from natural latexes combined with petroleum products or polyethylene and paraffin resins, nylon pantyhose, and aspirin, which begins with benzene and hydrocarbons.

6. Oil isn't always black

Oil is not only black, as many believe. It can be red, green, amber, blue and colorless. Its color depends on the amount, color and nature of the resinous substances contained in it. However, it does not affect the quality of oil.

7. The first oil rig was built in the 4th century

Back in the 4th century AD. The first oil rig was built in China. The Chinese used bamboo trunks as a modern auger. With their help, under pressure, the oil came up.

8. Unit of measurement of oil - "barrel"

Translated from English, "barrel" is a barrel. In the United States in 1866, several entrepreneurs teamed up to transport oil and, deciding to save money, began to buy already used 159-liter barrels for this. This volume was considered optimal for loading into railway cars. Over time, it was approved as a common unit of measurement and was called a barrel.

9. Before the first pipelines, oil was poured into wineskins.

Until pipelines appeared, oil was poured into wineskins and barrels. They were taken out with the help of horses, which was extremely unprofitable: the delivery cost more than the amount of oil produced. For example, in 1877, a pood of oil in the Apsheron fields cost 3 kopecks, and delivery to a distance of 12 km to oil refineries cost 20 kopecks.

10. The largest ships in the world are oil tankers

The length of the big ship- Norwegian tanker Knock Nevis - 458 m, width - 69 m. The draft of the ship when fully loaded exceeds 24 m, so it cannot pass through either the Suez or the Panama Canals, or even the English Channel.