Nobody ever uses “raw crude oil”, thus without people demanding PRODUCTS and FUELS made from crude oil, there would be no need for oil!
Recently, Ms. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist, scolded the world’s leaders by exclaiming “How dare you?” in reference to their perceived indifference and inaction to the climate crisis. More accurately, Ms. Thunberg’s question should have been “How dare ME for demanding the products and fuels manufactured from crude oil, that makes MY life more comfortable?”
Looking back at the history of the petroleum industry, it illustrates that the black cruddy looking crude oil was virtually useless, unless it could be manufactured (refineries) into oil derivatives that are now the basis of the oil derivatives used to manufacture products, such as medications, waxes, asphalt, lubricating oil, various plastics, solvents, and transportation fuels, that are essential for supporting modern lifestyles.
Policymakers are unaware that crude oil is not used in its natural, unrefined state. Crude oil is extracted from the earth and later refined into various fuels and oil derivatives that are the basis of products such as waxes, asphalt, lubricating oil, various plastics, transportation fuels, and a wide variety of other........