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The Age of Oil

History

Before being used in energy production, oil was used as a cheap and flexible illumination. In ancient times, in Mesopotamia, it was used in the asphalt for roads, the mastic for waterproofing ships, architecture, and hydraulics. It was even an essential ingredient for many medicines and treatments. Bitumen was used in warfare and many other places.

Oil became nearly entirely obsolete until the mid-1850s, when amateur and professional chemists from both the United States and Europe independently experimented in order to refine oil and find a fuel that could be used for lighting, instead of candles. In 1854, Abraham Gesner, of the United States, patented Kerosene.

Five years later, Edwin Drake first succeeded in extracting oil from the ground with a drilling machine after George Bissel suggested he help him out. He also introduced the use of the wooden barrel for holding oil. The first oil refinery was made in 1861. Also in that year, the first cargo of oil was exported from the United States to London. The first successful pipeline was completed in 1865. The “Black Gold Rush” began.

The Black Gold Rush was full of corruption, swindles, and distortions of rules. John D. Rockefeller had a plan to “put an end to [the oil industry’s] boom-and-bust cycles and their deadly consequences.” He created Standard Oil, with which he attempted to monopolize the oil industry, eliminating competition.

By 1900, the light bulb had become popular and oil was not used just for illumination anymore. There were 200 crude by-products that had been introduced, such as lubricants, petroleum wax for pharmaceuticals, candles, medicines, solvents, fuel for stoves, and for internal combustion engines.

From 1948 to 1973, world oil consumption grew by more than six times. In 1948, the world used 9.3 million barrels per day. But by 1973, that number had grown to 56 million. In the mid-1960s, oil usurped coal as the chief energy source. This led to a significant increase in the number of vehicles worldwide. In 1950, there were 53 million. By 1973, during the oil shock, there were 250 million and in 1980, there were 440 million vehicles worldwide.

The End of the Age of Oil

As the world population increases, so does the global demand for oil. Four to six barrels are used by the world for every new barrel found. It is estimated that the world’s oil supply will last for 35 more years if the demand remains unchanged. However, if the demand increases, it is estimated there are only 20 years left of supply. As a result of decreased oil being found and increasing demand for oil, the oil is becoming increasingly expensive to produce. A dead oil field is an oil field for which it takes more energy to pump a barrel of oil than what is gained from burning it, no matter how much oil may be left in the field. The problem is, unconventional substitutes are extremely expensive and hard to produce. Reaching Peak Oil is an “unavoidable, utterly transformative crisis.” This reality is accepted and acted on by world leaders. According to Michael Ruppert, to prevent the extinction of humans, the world’s population must be reduced by 4 billion people.

References

• Maugeri, Leonardo. (2006). “The Age of Oil: The Mythology, History, and Future of the World’s Most Controversial Resource.” Praeger Publishers.
• Ruppert, Michael C. (2004). “Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil.” New Society Publishers.