Petroleum: The Inside Story

J.M. Syken

Course Outline

Through the viewing of several archival/documentary films produced in the 1930s/40s/50s, we will examine the history of Petroleum from the early use of Kerosene as a replacement for whale oil to the development of gasoline to power internal combustion engines.

We will examine the crude oil extraction process, refining (distillation) into derivative products such as lubricating oils, gasoline, natural gas etc. We will also examine the many products such as plastics, fertilizer, insecticides etc. that are derived from crude oil and we will review safety procedures for flammable petroleum products.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Understand/appreciate the need for a replacement for whale oil and how the crude oil derivative Kerosene satisfied that need and founded the modern petroleum industry;
• Understand/appreciate the many products derived from crude oil;
• Understand/appreciate the methods used to locate and extract crude oil deposits;
• Understand/appreciate the transportation and processing of crude oil into petroleum products;
• Understand/appreciate the role of gasoline in the modern world and how it provides power to an internal combustion engine; and
• Understand/appreciate the need for safety procedures when handling flammable petroleum-based liquids.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the background, history, development, uses etc. of Petroleum.

Course Introduction

The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;

• Part 1 – Industry Overview
• Part 2 – Making Gasoline
• Part 3 – Gasoline Power
• Part 4 – Safety First

Part 1 examine the origins of the Petroleum Industry, its development, extraction/ refining methods, transportation, distribution and the various products derived from crude oil. Part 2 examines the refining by distillation process that creates gasoline from crude oil and the supplemental methods developed to increase quality/production. Part 3 examines how gasoline provides motive power in an engine. Part 4 examines the necessary safety procedures/rules to be followed when handling flammable petroleum products.

Course Content

Part 1 – Industry Overview;
TITLE: Oil for Aladdin’s Lamp (ca.1949)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/OilforAl1949
DURATION: 20:32
TITLE: Twenty-Four Hours of Progress (1950)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/TwentyFo1950
DURATION: 14:21
Part 2 – Making Gasoline;
TITLE: More Power to You (ca.1930s)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/MorePowe1930
DURATION: 09:07
TITLE: Gasoline for Everybody (1944)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/GasolineForE
DURATION: 12:54
TITLE: The Story of Gasoline (1948)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.12511
DURATION: 23:03
Part 3 – Gasoline Power;
TITLE: Down the Gasoline Trail (1935)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/DowntheG1935
DURATION: 07:57
Part 4 – Safety First;
TITLE: Farm Petroleum Safety  (1954)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/farm_petroleum_safety
DURATION: 24:33

Course Summary

It’s ironic to realize at this late date in history that gasoline was once dumped into America’s rivers and streams as an undesirable waste product of the petroleum industry. It’s also hard to believe that in the early oil-rush days, up to two-thirds of the oil in a well was left undisturbed because there wasn’t enough natural pressure for it to come to the surface on its own. Since necessity is the mother of invention, such wasteful practices were replaced with more efficient, environmentally friendly methods as the petroleum industry matured. By the middle of the 20th Century, the production of gasoline and other petroleum products provided the foundation upon which scores of other industries were based. Without petroleum, the world would literally grind to a halt.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4noZ0OaSyFc
(Film: The Story of Lubricating Oil - 22:04)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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