Society and Oil: A Global Perspective

Oil Resources in the Arab World

• The modern history of petroleum began in the 19th century, with the refining of kerosene from crude oil.
• The world's first commercial oil well was drilled in Poland in 1853, and the second in Romania in 1857.
• Romania was the first country with officially recorded crude oil output in international statistics (275 tons in 1857).
• Oil was discovered in Sumatra in 1885 by the Royal Dutch.
• The first well in Los Angeles was drilled in 1893.
• By the end of the 19th century, the Russian Empire led crude oil production.
• Lukasiewicz, a Polish inventor, saw the potential of seep oil for lamps and developed distillation techniques to produce kerosene.
• His work led to the birth of the European oil industry.

Oil Formation and Production

• Scientists believe petroleum hydrocarbons originate from tiny animals and plants that lived millions of years ago.
• These organic remains sink to the seafloor.
• Over time, layers of sand and silt accumulate over the remains, compressing them into rock.
• The organic material becomes trapped between rock layers.

Adding Extra Layers

• Heat and volcanic activity add extra rock layers on top of the organic layer.
• The weight and heat break down the organic material into a liquid state, resembling crude oil.
• The crude oil can then move.

Oil Extraction

• A petroleum reservoir (oil and gas) is a subsurface pool of hydrocarbons in porous rocks.
• Wells are drilled into the rocks to extract the oil.
• Oil wells can be more than two miles deep.
• Oil rigs are used to reach the oil.
• Extracted oil is sent to refineries.

Refining Crude Oil

• Refineries clean the oil and transform it into various fuels.
• Most of the oil is turned into gasoline.
• Crude oil can be processed into various products.

Crude Oil Uses

• Petroleum products are refined into fuels, plastics, paints, medicines and soaps.
• Electricity is made using petroleum.
• Petroleum fuels are used in vehicles, aircrafts, trucks, small planes, boats, and more.
• It is also used in industrial processes, producing asphalt, and heavy fuel oil.

Oil Production and Industry in the Arab World

• World crude oil production has increased by 57% in the last 36 years, reaching 82 million barrels per day (bbl) in 2007.
• A barrel is equivalent to 42 gallons.
• The Middle East and North Africa hold about 70% of the world's oil reserves.
• The Middle East leads the global market of oil production.

Major Oil Industry in the Arab World

• The Arab League, a regional organization, produces over 29% of global oil production.
• Saudi Arabia has the largest oil industry in the world.
• The Saudi Arabian oil industry accounts for nearly 13% of global oil production.
• Ghawar is the world's largest conventional oil field located in Al-Ahssa.

United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the largest proven oil and gas reserves.
• The UAE's 2009 global production share was around 3.32%.
• Oil and gas output count for 33% of GDP and 70% of total exports.
• Iraq's oil fields are located in both north and south and its share of global production in 2009 was about 2.85%.
• Kuwait's share of global production in 2009 was about 2.96%. The country's petroleum industry is largest industry, counting nearly half of its GDP.

Algeria, Libya, and Qatar

• Algeria's share of global production in 2009 was about 2.52%, highly dependent on oil and natural gas exports.
• Libya's share of global production in 2009 was about 2.12%.
• Oil export revenues account for a substantial percentage of GDP.
• Qatar's 2009 production share was about 1.44%. Oil and gas account for a large portion of its revenues.

History of Olive Oil

• Olive oil has been used for religious rituals, medicine, oil lamps, soaps, and skin care.
• Ancient Syrian documents demonstrate the significance of olive oil.
• Olive branches were used in ancient Egypt for purification and offerings to deities.
• The olive tree is amongst the oldest cultivated trees globally.
• Its cultivation and oil production have been prevalent since ancient times especially in the Mediterranean.
• Archaeological evidence reveals the first cultivation in Crete.
• The Greeks traded for wheat oil, the Romans used it to grease axles of wagons and chariots and the Romans and Greeks used it to heal illnesses.
• The olive tree and olive oil are also mentioned in the Quran.

Olive Oil Production in the Arab World

• Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, and Portugal are major producers of olives and olive oil.
• Olive trees are crucial to the economy of some Arab countries: they create livelihoods for many people and generate foreign currency through exports.
• Tunisia has a significant role in olive oil production and exports, holding a strategic position in Tunisian agriculture.
• Morocco has seen a steady increase in olive exports.
• Syria's exports of olive oil in 2009 were 74,000 tonnes.
• Jordan has 17 million olive trees and a yearly export worth 20 million JD.
• Palestine's olive production contributes to its overall fruit trees production income, accounting for 38.2%.

Human Societies

• Human society is essential for well-being.

• Previous generations built the society, passed down knowledge and it is our responsibility to develop that as well as pass it on to the next generation.

• Human societies have seen various kinds of social organizations (nomadic, villages, cities), social change, development of tools.

• The earliest human societies were nomadic hunter-gatherers who depended on their environment for survival (food).

• Hunter-gatherer societies were quite small (about 30 people).

• Their lifestyle was nomadic to find food & water.

• Societies included families and kinship was important.

• They were generally peaceful and harmonious societies.

• Technology (especially tools) helped early humans to interact with their environment.

• Horticultural societies emerged around 9000 BC, replacing hunting and gathering.

• Horticultural societies were still mobile but started to have more settled periods.

• The development of crops and domesticated plants started in the Middle East from wild grain, barley and wheat etc

• The agricultural societies developed even more complex tools, including plows, animals for farming, domesticated animals, and wind power (for sailboats).

• Agriculture allowed food surpluses. Surplus food encouraged growth in population, specialization and social class (rich and poor).

• Settled agricultural societies resulted in dramatic social changes, specialization of labor, and the development of cities.

Explore the intricate relationships between society and natural resources through this quiz. Delve into questions about societal definitions, misconceptions, and the historical significance of oil and olive cultivation. Test your knowledge on oil production statistics and the cultural role of olives in ancient civilizations.