How was petroleum discovered?: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Sepia-toned photo of Edwin L. Drake's first oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, showing a tall wooden derrick, a small wooden building, and several men standing nearby.

See All Images →

Topics

petroleum How Much Oil Does Venezuela Have, and How Much Is Accessible?How Much Oil Passes Through the Strait of Hormuz?crude oil paraffin hydrocarbon