Article: The nature of oil.

Byline: Paul Salopek

Petroleum is civilization's lifeblood. So goes the cliche. But although it is one of the most studied substances on Earth, it remains essentially mysterious, elusive.

In some respects, crude really does resemble blood. It scabs on exposure to air. It is organic and viscous. Some companies warm oil to about 90 degrees to make it slip more easily, with less friction, through pipelines. This temperature approximates that of the human body. Cold oil will coagulate. It coats the inner surfaces of the pipes with waxy buildups, much like arterial plaque. Pipelines must be cleaned regularly with the industrial equivalent of a cardiac ...

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