Crude oil is a thick, flammable, yellowish-black liquid mixture found in geological formations beneath the

Earth’s surface. It is pumped out of oil wells and composed mainly of hydrocarbons like petroleum, diesel
fuel, gasoline, heating oil and byproducts used in manufacturing plastics and chemicals. Crude oil
originally formed from the remains of plants, animals and microorganisms buried underneath
sedimentary rock and subjected to intense pressure and heat over millions of years.

This fossil fuel has become the world’s most important energy resource. After extraction, crude oil gets
transported via pipeline, oil tanker or rail to refineries where it undergoes processing into various fuels
and compounds. These then power the modern conveniences and transportation methods we depend
upon in everyday life – like cars, planes and plastics. Refined petroleum products now supply over 90% of
all transportation methods as well as heating and electricity needs for homes and businesses. This makes
steady crude oil supplies crucial for nations to maintain economic stability and meet energy demands.

However, crude oil is also the largest source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate
change when burned. Extraction methods can also damage local ecosystems and wildlife habitats. These
environmental impacts combined with finite oil reserves have ignited global efforts to develop
alternative renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biofuels to eventually shift reliance away from
unsustainable fossil fuels. But until such alternatives become as cheap and reliable, crude oil likely will
remain too valuable for nations and industries to curb intensive extraction practices happening across
the planet. The complex crude oil economy will continue dominating energy markets for the foreseeable
future even with ecological consequences.