ABSTRACT
Gaseous and liquid fuels are a key component in today's energy processes. During the Industrial Revolution, starting in the mid-eighteenth century, the major energy source used in the world changed from charcoal (wood) to various forms of coal. As technol ogy developed, the world began moving from the use of coal to crude oil (the most abundant liquid fuel used in industry today), and its derivatives, to provide the energy and heating requirements needed. The modern era of viable crude oil production and use began with commercial wells in the mid-1800s. An increasing need for oil products in technology (such as gasoline for the internal combustion engine and automobiles) spurred massive efforts in oil exploration and recovery in the early 1900s.
