Petroleum, along with oil and coal, is classified as a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are formed when sea plants and animals die, and the remains become buried under several thousand feet of silt, sand or mud. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and therefore petroleum is also considered to be a non-renewable energy source.

Petroleum is formed by hydrocarbons (a hydrocarbon is a compound made up of carbon and hydrogen) with the addition of certain other substances, primarily sulphur. Petroleum in its natural form when first collected is usually named crude oil, and can be clear, green or black and may be either thin like gasoline or thick like tar.

In 1859 Edwin Drake sank the first known oil well, this was in Pennsylvania. Since this time oil and petroleum production figure grew exponentially.

Originally the primary use of petroleum was as a lighting fuel, once it had been distilled and turned into kerosene. When Edison opened the world's first electricity generating plant in 1882 the demand for kerosene began to drop. However, by this time Henry Ford had shown the world that the automobile would be the best form of transport for decades to come, and gasoline began to be a product in high demand. World War I was the real catalyst for petroleum production, with more petroleum being produced throughout the war than had ever been produced previously. In modern times petroleum is viewed as a valuable commodity, traded around the world in the same way as gold and diamonds...................

This book has been written for the Medical/Pharmacy/Nursing/ME/M.TECH/BE/B.Tech students of All University with latest syllabus for ECE, EEE, CSE, IT, Mechanical, Bio Medical, Bio Tech, BCA, MCA and All B.Sc Department Students.

The basic aim of this book is to provide a basic knowledge in Petroleum Technology.

Petroleum Technology Syllabus students of degree, diploma & AMIE courses and a useful reference for these preparing for competitive examinations.

All the concepts are explained in a simple, clear and complete manner to achieve progressive learning.

This book is divided into five chapters. Each chapter is well supported with the necessary illustration practical examples.