National Petroleum Day - National Petroleum Day is here! We recognize and appreciate the hard work of everyone in the oil and gas industry!

National Petroleum Day 2024 – August 27, 2024

National Petroleum Day takes place on August 27 this year. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about industry issues and to recognize the importance and effect of petroleum resources in our lives. It is a day to honor this priceless natural resource and the great amount of good it has done for humanity, national wealth, and our lives in the 21st century. Many people in the oil and gas business utilize the event as a forum to talk about the difficulties that they confront.

History of National Petroleum Day

Petroleum, often known as crude oil or oil, is a yellowish-black liquid that forms spontaneously in geological formations. It’s frequently processed into a variety of fuels and chemicals. Since ancient times, petroleum has been employed in some form or another. Petroleum was one of the materials used to construct Babylon’s walls, according to Herodotus, a great Greek historian. Petroleum was also employed by the ancient Persians for lighting, as it was used to fill their lamps, as well as for medical uses. James Young, a Scottish chemist, began distilling petroleum in the mid-1800s, yielding kerosene as well as a thicker, darker oil that was ideal for lubricating machines.Petroleum has been used in ancient China for more than 2,000 years. Oil was found, extracted, and utilized in China for the first time in the 1st century B.C., according to the “I Ching,” one of the earliest Chinese books. Furthermore, as early as the 4th century B.C., the Chinese were the first to record the use of petroleum as a fuel. Oil was being produced in China from bamboo-drilled wells by 347 A.D.Since the 18th century, oil sands have been extracted. Young discovered natural petroleum seepage at Alfreton’s Riddings colliery and by 1848, he had established a modest business refining the crude oil. Young finally succeeded in extracting a number of valuable liquids from it, one of which he dubbed “paraffine oil.” Young formed a partnership in 1851, which resulted in the world’s first commercial oil refinery and the world’s first modern oil refinery.

National Petroleum Day timeline

4th Century
The First Record of Petroleum Usage

The Chinese are the first to record the use of petroleum as a fuel.

Mid-1800s
Petroleum Distillation

James Young, a Scottish chemist, begins distilling petroleum.

1851
The World's First Commercial Refinery

Young partners with Edward Binney and Edward Meldrum to form a company in Bathgate that became the world's first commercial oil refinery.

1858
A Petroleum Discovery in Germany

Georg Christian Konrad Hunäus discovers a considerable amount of petroleum in Germany.

National Petroleum Day FAQs

Who discovered crude oil?

Col. Edwin Drake drilled the first successful well through rock, yielding crude oil, in 1859.

Does fuel have an expiration date?

When stored in a sealed container at 20 degrees, petrol has a six-month shelf life.

Why is petroleum called "old black"?

This is due to the fact that crude oil is black when it is retrieved from the ground.

How to Observe National Petroleum Day

  1. Share facts about petroleum

    Participate in the festivities by spreading knowledge about petroleum and its applications. Take the time to do some research to help you with this, and then use your newfound college to educate others.

  2. Give yourself a petroleum challenge

    Make a petroleum-related challenge for yourself, such as attempting to go a day without using petroleum-based items. This will help you understand the worth of petroleum and its products, as well as its impact on our life.

  3. Throw a petroleum-themed party

    You could also throw a petroleum-themed party, where everyone brings something petroleum-related. This is an opportunity for you to appreciate this precious and flexible natural resource and to recognize that, despite its many flaws, it has done a tremendous amount of good for humanity.

5 Important Facts About Petroleum

  1. Petroleum has many forms

    Petroleum can exist as a liquid, a gas, or a solid.

  2. Petroleum is a Latin word derivative

    Petroleum is derived from two Latin words: ‘petra,’ which means stone, and ‘oleum,’ which means oil.

  3. The first use of the word

    In 1556, a German mineralogist used the term ‘petroleum’ for the first time.

  4. America's daily oil consumption

    The United States consumes about 15 million barrels per day of crude oil.

  5. Daily oil barrel production

    There are around 800,000 producing wells worldwide, producing 75 million barrels of oil each day.

Why National Petroleum Day is Important

  1. Petroleum promotes economic development

    Oil is an essential part of modern society. Access to affordable electricity in poor countries may empower residents and improve their quality of life. Petroleum may help a country's economy by attracting foreign investment.

  2. It powers the world

    Petroleum has traditionally been the most important source of energy for human consumption. Petroleum products are used to power vehicles, heat buildings, and generate energy. Petroleum is used to power the majority of our globe.

  3. Spreads awareness on petroleums importance

    National petroleum day creates awareness of the many benefits of petroleum. It equally educates the public about the versatile and proper use of petroleum in a way that does not harm the environment further than has been done.

National Petroleum Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 August 27 Sunday
2024 August 27 Tuesday
2025 August 27 Wednesday
2026 August 27 Thursday
2027 August 27 Friday