Petroleum Vs. Black Gold

Having been in the oil and gas industry for quite sometimes, the word petroleum, oil and gas, petrochemical, liquified natural gas are no alien to me. In my view, oil is subset of petroleum which means , petroleum is more common terms as opposed to oil and gas. Oil is also called as “black gold” by certain quarters, which is very valuable commodity, black yet as precious as gold. The rise, the collapse and the fall of a country can be caused by this precious black gold. For a simple reason; until and unless alternative to the oil is found, cheaper to produce energy[ economically viable and feasible], till then oil is “the factor”. Often we heard ” The curse of black gold “- be it the good or bad curse, is very true politically, economically and socially context of a nation. According to Wikipedia, black gold is always associated with petroleum or less commonly coal. Look around us, and you will find the answer.

Again, from my reading of Wikipedia, the word “Petroleum” originates from Greek word, which means literally “Rock Oil”. It consists of complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecul weights and other organic compounds. The term petroleum was first used in treaties De Natura Fossilium, published in 1546 by German minerologist George Baker, also known as Georgius Agricola.