Petroleum - crude oil

Petroleum Definition: Petroleum or crude oil is any naturally-occurring flammable mixture of hydrocarbons found in geologic formations, such as rock strata. Most petroleum is a fossil fuel, formed from the action of intense pressure and heat on buried dead zooplankton and algae. Technically, the term petroleum only refers to crude oil, but sometimes it is applied to describe any solid, liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons

Introduction

Nigeria as a nation is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These minerals include coal, columbite, limestone, tin and crude oil. Crude oil is also called petroleum. Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It occurs naturally beneath the earth surface. In Nigeria, it is dark brown in colour. It is a source of great revenue to Nigeria. It is believed that natural crude oil (petroleum) was formed from deep carbon deposits (remains of animals and plants) that date back to formation of the earth.

Meaning of Crude Oil as Petrochemicals

Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities.

Crude oil occurs in large quantities in Nigeria, especially in Bayelsa, Edo, Imo, rivers, Delta, Abia, Ondo and Cross river state. It is dark brown in colour though its composition and consistency vary from place to place. In fact, different oil producing areas yield significantly different varieties of crude oil. We have light and heavy crude oil. The light one has low metal and sulphur content, light in colour and flows easily. It is very expensive. The heavy one has high metal and sulphur content and must be heated to become fluid. It is less expensive.

Meaning of Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals are chemical substances produced from petroleum in refining operations. They are heavy part of petroleum used mainly to produce plastic materials.

Refining of Crude Oil

Petroleum or crude oil occurs naturally. it contains many useful products also called fractions. These are separated by the method of fractional distillation. This process of obtaining useful fractions from petroleum is called refining.

Fractional Distillation

Fractional distillation of Crude Oil

Fractions of petroleum from refining are petroleum gases (Methane, butane, etc.), petrol or gasoline, kerosene, diesel, lubricating oil and bitumen (asphalt).

Uses of Refined Crude Oil Fractions

1. Petroleum gases are used for welding and as cooking gases
2. Petrol is used for driving cars
3. Kerosene is used for cooking, lighting lanterns and as aviation fuel
4. Diesel is used for driving lorries and trucks
5. Lubricating oil is used for removing rust and loosening nuts
6. Bitumen is used for road construction

Uses of Petrochemicals

1. Padding lining for insulation
2. Raw materials for making plastic items such as chairs, tables, pipes, plates, etc.

Importance of Crude Oil and Petrochemicals

Crude oil and its allied petrochemical products play important roles in the development of Nigeria as a nation. Such roles include:

1. Earning foreign exchange
2. Creating employment for workers
3. Bringing about industrialization in the areas where oil is discovered or refined
4. Providing raw materials for small-scale industries
5. Bringing about international recognition by other countries of the world
6. Providing opportunity for technology transfer