Crude oil comes with several disadvantages which pose a threat to the environment and also challenge productive use. They include environmental pollution and uncontrolled extraction and depletion.
The biggest disadvantage of crude oil is the threat it poses to the environment. As it burns, it produces carbon dioxide, which pollutes the breathing air and corrodes the ozone layer. In cases where transportation by pipe is not up to standard, the oil may leak into the ground, polluting the soil and affecting micro-organisms. Transportation by trucks, on the other hand, destroys roads and poses risks of fires in cases of accidents.
Like refined oil and petroleum, crude oil can also be used as fuel for burning. Unfortunately, it is not renewable, unlike other fuel resources. As such, uncontrolled extraction and usage only deplete resources for future generations since formation of crude oil may take millions of years.
However, while crude oil can burn, it is not possible to use in most applications like driving, flying and even powering machines. To this end, it has to be refined into products like gasoline, diesel and kerosene among others. This is an expensive process that also leads to air pollution and extensive earth drilling.
