Description

Chart Petroleum

Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a natural resource found underground. This chart will illustrate different aspects of petroleum.

Sections:

• What is Petroleum?
  • A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, naturally occurring in liquid, gaseous, or solid form.
  • Often referred to in its liquid form as crude oil.
  • Technically also includes natural gas and bitumen (found in tar sands).
  Crude oil
• Formation of Petroleum
  • Formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms like plankton and algae that settled on the ocean floor millions of years ago.
  • Over time, these sediments were buried deep underground under layers of rock and subjected to high pressure and temperatures.
  • Decomposition of this organic matter under these conditions, in the absence of oxygen, led to the formation of petroleum.
  Microscopic fossils
• Composition of Petroleum
  • Primarily consists of hydrocarbons, organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms in various chain lengths.
  • The specific mix of hydrocarbons determines the properties of the crude oil, such as its viscosity (thickness) and sulfur content.
• • Oil rigs are used to drill deep underground to reach petroleum reservoirs.
  • Once extracted, the crude oil is transported via pipelines or tankers for further processing. Extraction of Petroleum
  Oil drilling platform
• Refining of Petroleum
  • Crude oil is not directly usable and needs to be refined into various products.
  • Refining involves distillation, separating the crude oil into different fractions based on their boiling points.
  • These fractions are then processed further to create various products like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, asphalt, and petrochemicals.
  Oil refinery

Additional Information:

• A small inset can be included to differentiate between different types of crude oil based on their density:
  • Light crude oil (low density, easier to refine)
  • Heavy crude oil (high density, more complex refining process)
• Briefly mention the environmental impact of petroleum extraction and refining, and the ongoing efforts for cleaner energy sources.

Benefits:

This chart provides a comprehensive overview of petroleum, from its formation and composition to extraction, refining, and its various uses.