Highlight the importance of petroleum. Explain the occurrence of petrolei ? in India.
(1) Importance : It is the second major energy source in India after coal. Its uses are as given below: It provides fuel for heat and lighting. It provides lubricants for machinery. It provides raw materials for many manufacturing industries. Petroleum refineries act as a ‘nodal industry’ for synthetic, textile, fertiliser an numerous chemical industries. (2) Occurrences of petroleum is as mentioned below : Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age. In regions of folding, anticlines or domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold. The oil bearing layer is a porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow. The oil is prevented from rising or sinking by intervening non-porous layers. (3) Distribution of petroleum : Distribution of petroleum is given below : 63% of India’s petroleum production is from Mumbai High, 18 per cent from Gujarat and 16 per cent from Assam. Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Mora a Hugrijan are the important oil fields in the state.
