ABSTRACT

The petroleum industry has been inspired by the technological advances of the twentieth century. Or perhaps the converse of this statement is true!

However, for the main part, the petroleum industry was inspired by the development of the automobile and the continued demand for gasoline and other fuels (Hoffman, 1992). Such a demand has been accompanied by the demand for other products: diesel fuel for engines, lubricants for engine and machinery parts, fuel oil to provide power for the industrial complex, and asphalt for roadways.