Petroleum

<body> <p>The word “petroleum” derives from the Latin words “petro” (rock) and “oleum” (oil). Petroleum is defined as a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons, in gaseous, liquid and solid states, with molecular compositions ranging from one to forty carbon atoms. It was originated by the decay of marine phytoplankton through processes that differ in their length of time and their conditions of temperature and pressure. Compounds included under this broad term are crude oil, lease condensates, natural gas plant liquids and refined products obtained from the processing of crude oil. </p> </body>