FAQs from Teachers. I have curriculum materials that were given to me by another teacher, however I have not attended a workshop. Click here to contact us. Every Oklahoma Teacher Should Know. Oil, commonly referred to as petroleum, is a naturally occurring substance made up of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon compounds.
Hydrocarbons occur as liquids, gases, or solids.
Petroleum originated from marine plants and animals that decayed over time under ocean silt, sand or other materials. Millions of years, extreme pressure and heat transformed the biotic material into petroleum. In August of 1859, at Titusville, Pennsylvania, Col. Edwin Drake drilled the first oil well. The discovery at 69.5 feet in the Oil Creek formation was significant in that it demonstrated the practicality in drilling. Fossil fuels supply almost 95 percent of the world's energy, even though hydro, nuclear and geothermal energy use has tripled since 1970.