Modern petroleum history began in 1846 when Abraham Kisner, living in Atlantic Canada, invented a method of extracting kerosene from petroleum. In 1852, the Polish Ignaci Lukasiewicz (Lgnacy·Ukasiewicz) invented the method of extracting kerosene using more readily available oil. The following year the first modern oil field opened near Klosnow in southern Poland. These inventions soon became popular all over the world. The world’s first oil refinery was established in Baku in 1861. At that time Baku produced 90% of the world’s oil. Later, the Battle of Stalingrad was launched to seize the Baku oil fields. =
In the 19th century, the development of the oil industry was slow, and the refined oil was mainly used as fuel for oil lamps. The situation changed dramatically with the invention of the internal combustion engine in the early 20th century, and petroleum is by far the most important fuel for internal combustion engines. Especially in the United States, oil discoveries in Texas, Oklahoma and California have led to a “gold rush”-like situation.
In 1910 new oil fields were discovered in Canada (especially in Alberta), the Dutch East Indies, Persia, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico. These fields are all developed industrially.
PP826 3BSE042244R1 ABB | Function key panel