4 PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AND POLITICS
suitable alternative forms of energy are readily available (Boyle, 1996;
Ramage, 1997). Therefore, a thorough understanding of the benefits
and limitations of petroleum recovery and processing is necessary,
and hopefully can be introduced within the pages of this book.
The history of any subject is the means by which the subject is
studied in the hopes that much can be learned from the events of
the past. In the current context, the occurrence and use of petroleum, petroleum derivatives (naphtha), heavy oil, and bitumen
is not new. The use of petroleum and its derivatives was practiced in pre-Christian times and is known largely through historical use in many of the older civilizations (Henry, 1873; Abraham,
1945; Forbes, 1958a, 1958b; James and Thorpe, 1994; Krishnan
and Rajagopal, 2003). Thus, the use of petroleum and the development of related technology is not such a modern subject as we
are inclined to believe. However, the petroleum industry is essentially a 20
th century industry but to understand the evolution of the
industry, it is essential to have a brief understanding of the first
uses of petroleum.
The Tigris-Euphrates valley, in what is now Iraq, was inhabited
as early as 4000 BC by the people known as the Sumerians, who
established one of the first great cultures of the civilized world. The
Sumerians devised the cuneiform script, built the temple towers
known as ziggurats, an impressive law, literature, and mythology.
As the culture developed, bitumen or asphalt was frequently used
in construction and in ornamental works.
Although it is possible to differentiate between the words bitumen and asphalt in modern use, the occurrence of these words in
older texts offers no such possibility. It is significant that the early
use of bitumen was in the nature of cement for securing or joining
together various objects, and it therefore seems likely that the name
itself was expressive of this application.
The word asphalt is derived from the Akkadian term asphaltu
or sphallo, meaning to split. It was later adopted by the Homeric
Greeks in the form of the adjective ασφαλτ(ς ες signifying firm, stable, secure, and the corresponding verb ασφαλίζω ίσω meaning to
make firm or stable, to secure. Just like bitumen, the first use of asphalt
by the ancients was in the nature of cement for securing or joining together various objects, such as the bricks used for building,
so it seems likely that the name itself was also expressive of this
application. From the Greek, the word passed into Latin (asphaltum,
aspaltum), and thence into French (asphalte) and English (aspaltoun).
suitable alternative forms of energy are readily available (Boyle, 1996;
Ramage, 1997). Therefore, a thorough understanding of the benefits
and limitations of petroleum recovery and processing is necessary,
and hopefully can be introduced within the pages of this book.
The history of any subject is the means by which the subject is
studied in the hopes that much can be learned from the events of
the past. In the current context, the occurrence and use of petroleum, petroleum derivatives (naphtha), heavy oil, and bitumen
is not new. The use of petroleum and its derivatives was practiced in pre-Christian times and is known largely through historical use in many of the older civilizations (Henry, 1873; Abraham,
1945; Forbes, 1958a, 1958b; James and Thorpe, 1994; Krishnan
and Rajagopal, 2003). Thus, the use of petroleum and the development of related technology is not such a modern subject as we
are inclined to believe. However, the petroleum industry is essentially a 20
th century industry but to understand the evolution of the
industry, it is essential to have a brief understanding of the first
uses of petroleum.
The Tigris-Euphrates valley, in what is now Iraq, was inhabited
as early as 4000 BC by the people known as the Sumerians, who
established one of the first great cultures of the civilized world. The
Sumerians devised the cuneiform script, built the temple towers
known as ziggurats, an impressive law, literature, and mythology.
As the culture developed, bitumen or asphalt was frequently used
in construction and in ornamental works.
Although it is possible to differentiate between the words bitumen and asphalt in modern use, the occurrence of these words in
older texts offers no such possibility. It is significant that the early
use of bitumen was in the nature of cement for securing or joining
together various objects, and it therefore seems likely that the name
itself was expressive of this application.
The word asphalt is derived from the Akkadian term asphaltu
or sphallo, meaning to split. It was later adopted by the Homeric
Greeks in the form of the adjective ασφαλτ(ς ες signifying firm, stable, secure, and the corresponding verb ασφαλίζω ίσω meaning to
make firm or stable, to secure. Just like bitumen, the first use of asphalt
by the ancients was in the nature of cement for securing or joining together various objects, such as the bricks used for building,
so it seems likely that the name itself was also expressive of this
application. From the Greek, the word passed into Latin (asphaltum,
aspaltum), and thence into French (asphalte) and English (aspaltoun).