The legendary Spindletop well
The rise of oil’s big three, part 1: The transition to oil
In this first part of the first chapter of our 90th anniversary special on the history of oil, we look at oil’s humble beginnings and the start of its rise to prominence
Oil was once considered a major irritation. During the latter half of the 18th century, the commercial production of salt meant drilling for salt water and encountering the challenge of petroleum and gas. Salt is impermeable and does not dissolve in oil, so it often sets the boundaries of the oil deposits in the ground. It was those salt drillers that helped extract oil from the first commercial oil well. And the importance of the resource gained traction with new products and especially with the discovery of kerosene, a clear liquid produced originally by distilling coal (‘coal-oil’) by Abraham Gesner in 1846. Kerosene would become popular as a cheap, clean fuel for lighting homes when kero
Also in this section
21 March 2025
Two recent developments raise the prospect of a revival in northern Iraqi oil and gas fortunes, but familiar obstacles could thwart momentum
20 March 2025
As cash-strapped Western governments commit to substantially raising defence expenditure, a similar dynamic is playing out in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas sector, as Saudi Aramco maintains it heavy capex push despite reduced revenues
20 March 2025
Tariffs, sanctions and trade conflicts are upending the oil market, impacting crude differentials and shipping rates and creating uncertainty
20 March 2025
While advanced economies debate peak fossil fuel demand, billions of people still lack access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in the Global South
