The History of Oil and Gas in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The History of Oil and Gas in China - Essay Example China was the first country to discover the presence of oil accumulations in salt wells. The Chinese identified beforehand the significance and the possible use of oil and gas in boundless applications. Early on in history, about 500 B.C., consistent with some historical accounts about China, the old Chinese express about wells with the depth of 100 feet holding a significant volume of water and natural gas. Also, the Chinese were pioneers in conceptualizing the use of bamboos to serve as pipelines to draw natural gas and oil from wells. These recovered gas and oil were originally used for lighting (Business Reference Services, "History of Oil and Gas Industry"). In addition, the Chinese eventually ventured in searching and excavating wells with depths of over 2000 feet (American Petroleum Institute, "All about Petroleum - As Old as History").While China was the first country to venture in the exploration and excavation of oil and natural gas reserves, it was not the first country to take innovative approaches in developing petroleum products like kerosene, gasoline, etc. It commenced adopting a modernistic method in developing oil and gas products only during the 1950s. Even up to the present, China is comparatively fresher in modern oil and gas discovery and production compared to the US. Initially, China was an oil importer but later managed to become independent; and even became an exporter between 1965 and 1993; however, it went back to being an importer in 1993.