petroleum

petroleum, oily, flammable liquid that occurs naturally in deposits, usually beneath the surface of the earth; it is also called crude oil. It consists principally of a mixture of hydrocarbons, with traces of various nitrogenous and sulfurous compounds.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• History and Development of Petroleum
• Composition and Refining of Petroleum
• Exploration and Drilling of Wells
• Origin and Natural Occurrence
• Bibliography

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