Question

Name the place where petroleum is mined in India.

Answer 1

Hint: It is also known as Oil. It is a kind of fossil fuel. It is regarded as an important product in our day-to-day lives.

Complete Answer:
- The formation of petroleum started millions of years ago when the plants, algae and plankton drifted in the oceans. After the death of these organisms they sank into the seafloor and with the passage of time they were buried and crushed under millions of tons of sediment and plant debris. The organic matter which was pressed in between the Earth’s mantle faced very high temperatures covered by millions of tons of rocks and sediments above it.
- The absence of oxygen in these climatic conditions started transforming the organic matter into a waxy component termed as kerogen which transformed into hydrogen and carbon in the presence of heat and pressure. For example coal, peat, natural gas etc. The petroleum then seeps out to the surface of the Earth where there is low pressure and collects in a reservoir known as Oil-in-place.
- In India the prominent places for refining petroleum are Digboi and Naharkatiya in Assam, Kalol and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, Bassein and Bombay High in Maharashtra.
- Petroleum has a number of advantages such as it is used in the power internal combustion of the engines. It is also used in the process of road pavement, roofing and as water repellent. It is used to a great extent in the manufacturing of detergents, plastics, fibres and polythene etc. It is a great source for the purpose of cooking and lighting in rural areas as many of the lives are dependent on it.

Note: The major producer of petroleum in the World is the United States. The second major producer is Saudi Arabia. The third major producer is Russia.