Petroleum's Prehistoric Origins Offer Lessons for Modern Life

A retired professor explores how ancient sunlight and fossilized plankton became the fuel that powers our world.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

This article delves into the deep history of petroleum, tracing its origins back millions of years to the microscopic plants and animals that once thrived in warm, shallow seas. As these organisms died and were buried under layers of sediment, they were 'cooked' at just the right temperature to transform into the fuel we use today. The author explains how petroleum's global distribution and the complex marketplace that surrounds it have shaped geopolitics for over a century, and encourages readers to consider how we can use this ancient resource wisely as we look to the future.

Why it matters

Understanding the prehistoric origins and global significance of petroleum provides important context for how we use this vital resource today. As modern societies have become heavily dependent on oil, this story highlights the need to consider the long-term sustainability of our energy systems and find ways to live beyond our reliance on this finite, non-renewable fuel.

The details

Petroleum is formed from the remains of microscopic plants and animals that lived in ancient seas millions of years ago. As these organisms died and were buried under layers of sediment, they were 'cooked' at just the right temperature to transform into crude oil and natural gas. This 'oil window' of optimal heat and pressure is what energy companies seek to locate and extract today. Once formed, petroleum slowly seeps upward through rock, becoming trapped in natural reservoirs that companies drill to access. The global distribution of these reservoirs, found in regions like the Middle East, Texas, and Siberia, has shaped geopolitics for over a century as nations vie for control of this strategic resource.

  • Tens of millions of years ago, microscopic plants and animals drifted in warm, shallow waters, using sunlight to build their bodies.
  • When these organisms died, they settled into dark, oxygen-poor mud, where decay slowed and burial began.
  • Over millions of years, the Earth 'cooked' this buried organic material at just the right temperature to transform it into crude oil and natural gas.

The players

Edwin Drake

The man who drilled the first modern oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859, kickstarting the global petroleum industry.

Honolulu Community College

The institution where the article's author, Richard Brill, was a retired professor of science.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Petroleum is Earth's deep-time inheritance. Knowing its story gives us something rare: the chance to use it wisely, and to learn how to live beyond it.”

— Richard Brill, Retired professor of science (Star-Advertiser)

What’s next

As societies continue to grapple with the environmental and geopolitical implications of our reliance on petroleum, further research and innovation will be needed to develop sustainable alternatives and transition away from this finite resource.

The takeaway

By understanding the ancient origins and global significance of petroleum, we can gain valuable perspective on how to use this vital resource more responsibly and thoughtfully as we work towards a more sustainable future.