ABSTRACT
Petroleum is one of three major energy resources that collectively comprise the fossil fuels. The others are coal and natural gas.* We rst begin by inquiring what the term fossil fuels actually means. A fossil is a remnant of formerly living organisms preserved in the Earth’s crust. A fuel is a substance that we use as a source of energy, usually by burning it to liberate heat. So, fossil fuels are energy sources originating from the remains of once-living organisms that have accumulated inside the Earth. Collectively, petroleum, coal, and natural gas represent the most important source of energy that we have, for electric power production, transportation, manufacturing, and use in the home.
