Uses of Petroleum
- From light automobiles such as motorcycles, and cars to heavy motor vehicles like trucks, and tractors everything runs on diesel and petrol.
- It provides fuel for heat and lighting, lubricants for machinery and raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries.
- It is an essential source of energy for all internal combustion engines in automation, railways and aircraft.
- Its by-products are processed in petrochemical industries such as fertilizer, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, medicines, Vaseline, lubricates, wax, soap and cosmetics.
Some Important Fractions of Petroleum and their Uses
Fraction |
Boiling Point |
Number of Carbon Atoms |
Products Obtained/uses |
---|---|---|---|
Petroleum gas | below 40 °C | 1 – 4 | LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): fuel for home and industry |
Gasoline and naphtha | 40 – 160 °C | 4 – 10 | Petrol: motor fuel, aviation fuel, solvent for dry cleaning |
Kerosene | 150 – 250 °C | 10 – 16 | Kerosene: domestic fuel, jet engine fuel |
Light Oil | 250 – 350 °C | 16 – 20 | Diesel: fuel for motor vehicle |
Heavy Oil | 250 – 350 °C | 20 – 25 | Useful organic chemicals |
Residue | over 350 °C | over 25 | Lubricating oil and Paraffin wax |
What is Petroleum? – Occurrence, Refining, Formation, Uses
Petroleum is a fossil fuel that is a very dark-coloured viscous liquid with a foul smell. It is commonly known as crude oil. Petroleum is always found between two rocks (non-porous). The word petroleum is derived from the Latin language “petra” means rock and ”oleum” means oil. That’s why, petroleum means rock oil. Petroleum or mineral oil is the next major energy source in India after coal. Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertilizer and numerous chemical industries.
Where Petroleum Occurs?
Petroleum is found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks. Petroleum is found in 500 meters to 2000 meters depth. It is always found mixed with salt water, and being lighter than saltwater, Petroleum always floats over it.
Where Petroleum is Found?
- Mumbai High, Gujarat and Assam are three major petroleum production areas in India. Ankleshwar is the most important field in Gujarat.
- Assam is the oldest oil-producing state in India. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan are the important oil fields in this state.
- In Gujarat – Ankaleshwar, kalol, Mehsana, nawagam, kosamba and lunej.
- Mumbai high which lies 160 km off Mumbai was discovered in 1973 and production was started in 1956.
- In India, oil and natural gas are found in Krishna, Godavari and Kaveri basins on the eastern coast.
How Oil Wells are Managed to Extract Petroleum?
Firstly, the site location is mapped through geographical and geological methods by using seismology. And then with the help of giant rigs, a hole is drilled in the Earth’s crust. After reaching the rock cap, the natural gas comes out first with great pressure. Thus, after gas petroleum starts flowing out due to the pressure of natural gas. And the petrol is pumped out by using the electric motors.