The Middle East, considered a cradle of civilization, is known for having the highest supplies of crude oil in the world. Venezuela, however, is known for having the largest reserves in the world. On the other hand, I’ve heard Middle Eastern oil is easier to refine than Venezuelan.
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Oil is primarily formed when large amounts of small soft bodied aquatic organisms, such as plankton and algae, die in large masses and are buried before they can fully decompose or be consumed, as underground their partially decomposed remains are subjected to intense heat and pressure which basically breaks down the more complex molecules into more basic hydrocarbons(molecules made of up bonds of hydrogen and carbon). Carbon soup in essence.
Naturally extracted crude oil will also not entirely be just the same oil, its a mix of various different liquid oil molecules, as well as a mix of more gaseous hydrocarbons like methane and propane, and this mix varies on each different reserve, and the rock composition above and around them may differ, which can effect how easy it is to extract and refine this resource in what you need from it. Generally the higher the number of carbon atoms in the molecules, the denser and heavier they become. The gases are mostly the lighter molecules, while at the far end you have really large and heavy molecules that are basically tar.
Dead organisms, such as plants and animals, sink to the bottom of the ocean or sea.
Over time, these organisms are buried under layers of sediment.
The pressure and heat from the weight of the sediment cause the organic matter to decompose and form crude oil.
Crude oil is trapped in porous rocks, such as sandstone and limestone.
Oil wells are drilled into the ground to extract the crude oil.
The Middle East is known for having the highest supplies of crude oil in the world because it is located in a region that was once covered by a shallow sea. This sea was home to a variety of organisms that died and sank to the bottom, where they were buried under layers of sediment. Over time, these organisms decomposed and formed crude oil.
Venezuela is known for having the largest reserves of crude oil in the world. This is because the country has a large area of land that is covered by sedimentary rocks. These rocks are home to crude oil that was formed from the remains of dead organisms that lived millions of years ago.
Middle Eastern oil is generally easier to refine than Venezuelan oil because it has a lower sulfur content. Sulfur is a pollutant that can be harmful to the environment. Middle Eastern oil also has a higher API gravity, which means that it is less dense and easier to flow. This makes it easier to transport and refine.
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