Why are oil and gas important?

Oil is one of the most important raw materials we have. Everyday we use hundreds of things that are made from oil or gas.

Oil and gas are also important for the number of jobs they provide. Tens of thousands of people work in the oil and gas industry. Each week Britain produces about two million tonnes of oil and gas. This is worth about £37 million pounds a day to the people of Britain.

Make a list of things you have used or you have done today that rely on oil or gas.

How many things can you find that don't rely on oil and gas?

How were oil and gas formed?

Gas and crude oil are found underground.

	Much of the world is covered by sea. The sea contains many tiny animals and plants. These tiny animals and plants called plankton get their energy to live and multiply from sunlight. When they die they sink to the bottom of the sea. Those that died millions of years ago are the source of today's oil and gas.
	The dead sea creatures were buried by sand and mud at the bottom of the sea. It's is thought the sun's energy was stored in the bodies of the dead creatures and plants. The dead bodies started to decay.
	Over millions of years the dead animals and plants were buried deeper and deeper. The squashed creatures turned into oil and gas. The pressure and temperature deep underground turned the chemicals from the decaying animals and plants into crude oil and gas.