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How Was Oil Discovered?
You may be wondering what in the world is this "oil" that had everyone excited in 1901. Well, oil is
actually petroleum. The word petroleum comes from two Latin words, petra meaning rock and oleum
meaning oil. Oil that comes straight from the earth is referred to as crude oil. Pools of oil are located
deep within the earth. Sometimes, small amounts of oil come bubbling to the surface through layers of
rock and sand. Man first discovered oil that had bubbled up to the surface. The oil would collect in low
places in the earth's crust or float on top of the water in lakes or streams.
Before about 1900, people interested in finding oil, could do little more than look for oil seepages. A lot
of luck was also involved. As the interest in finding oil increased, so did the scientific methods for
locating it. Scientists have learned that oil collects in rock reservoirs or traps below the earth's surface.
They have also identified the most common types of traps. One is a salt dome. In a salt dome, salt
pushes up causing the rocks to arch and break. Oil may accumulate above or along the sides of such a
formation. Spindletop Hill is a salt dome formation. That's why oil has been found there.
How Did Oil Form?
Oil is a fossil fuel. Millions of years ago, tiny sea creatures and plants died and fell to the bottom of the
ocean floor. Layer on top of layer of this organic material collected and decomposed. Year after year,
sand and rocks covered the layers until pressure built up. The high temperature of the rotting material,
along with the pressure from the layers of rock and sand that covered it, caused a chemical reaction.
Eventually, petroleum was created. Then the ancient seas dried up and oil remained trapped under tons
of earth.
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What Were the Early Uses of Oil?
It is interesting that people for nearly 5,000 years have found many uses for the different forms of oil
that they found. The ancient Egyptians used petroleum to prepare their mummies for burial.
The knights during medieval times used oil to put a shine on their metal swords and shields.
Asphalt, which is a hardened form of oil, was used to seal seams and cracks in early ships.
Native Americans used oil in medicines and as an ointment for their skin. Wagon wheels turned more
easily after a thin coating of oil had been applied to the axle. At the beginning of the twentieth century,
a form of petroleum called kerosene was put in lamps to provide fuel for lighting. It was also found that
when oil was mixed with sand and gravel, it could be used to pave roads.
In 19th century America, whale oil was usually burned in lamps to provide
light. As the 20th century approached, whales had become scarce causing
the price of their oil to rise. People began looking for another source of
fuel for light.
It was found that crude oil that had found its way to the surface could be
refined into a product called kerosene. This kerosene could be used in place of whale oil for lighting. As
the demand for the fuel increased and people saw that money could be made selling oil, drilling
methods and equipment were developed. In 1859, Edwin Drake drilled America's first commercial oil
well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Oil was struck at a depth of only 69 feet. This well produced about 30
barrels of oil a day. They needed a container for the oil so they developed an oil barrel. It held 42
gallons.
In the next few years, oil wells were drilled not only in Pennsylvania, but also Ohio, West Virginia, and
Indiana. Men flocked to these areas just like the gold rush in 1849 in California. In fact, oil became
known as "black gold".
Most of the oil that was produced was refined into kerosene.
Gasoline was also produced in small quantities. It was not good
for lighting fuel because it was explosive. Since no use at that
time was found for gasoline, most of it was dumped into nearby lakes and streams.
Then in the 1890's, oil was accidentally found in Corsicana, Texas. While drilling for water, oil came
bubbling up in their pipes. Drillers quickly capped the wells, and began drilling somewhere else for
water. They did not know until a few days later what they had found.
Everyone was talking about this new type of fuel. The thrill of discovering oil caught the attention of
many people. The quest for oil for some led to great riches. It created new jobs, new towns, new places,
and incredible inventions. Excitement was everywhere at the turn of the new century.
Southeast Texas was the next super site for the discovery of oil. Little did people know that the boom
that shook the world was about to occur on Spindletop Hill in Beaumont, Texas.