Fuels Collection

1960s paraffin heater
Paraffin heater, historical image. This portable heater, manufactured in the 1960s, was fuelled by the fossil fuel paraffin (also called paraffin oil and kerosene)

Oil drilling rig, North Sea
Oil drilling rig. Byford Dolphin semi-submersible oil rig moored in the Cromarty Firth at the town of Invergordon, Scotland

Jackup oil drilling rig, North Sea
Jackup oil drilling rig. Ensco 80 oil rig being towed up the Cromarty Firth passing the town of Invergordon. Photographed in the North Sea, Scotland

Oil tanker loading at an oil terminal in Nakhodka, Russia

Off-shore oil rig
Off-shore oil production. A large off-shore oil production rig in calm waters. The main parts of the rig are the drilling tower (left), the supporting legs, and the accomodation block (right)

Oil refinery at night. A tailings pond, for the disposal of waste material from the mining and refining process, is seen in the foreground

Oil drilling rig at night, North Sea
Oil drilling rig at night. Byford Dolphin semi-submersible oil rig moored in the Cromarty Firth at the town of Invergordon, Scotland

Oil drilling rig, North Sea
Oil drilling rig. Byford Dolphin semi-submersible oil rig moored in the Cromarty Firth at the town of Invergordon, Scotland

Oil barrels. Oil products are obtained from crude oil, which is oil from the ground before it has been refined. It contains a varied mixture of hydrocarbons

Gas storage tanks. Supporting structures of three gas storage tanks and two electricity pylons and power lines silhouetted against a setting sun

Supertanker Golar Nikko at Teeside oilport
The 105, 000 tonne Golar Nikko, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), or supertanker. It is seen during unloading of crude oil at the oilport at Teesside, north- east England

Oil drilling rigs, North Sea
Oil drilling rigs. Ensco 80 jackup oil rig (left) being towed past the Arctic 2 anchored semi-submersible rig (right). Photographed in the Cromarty Firth, near Invergordon, Scotland

Oil pump in a wheat field. This type of oil pump is commonly known as a nodding donkey or jack pump. It is used to draw crude oil from a well when the pressure difference in the well is not

Screenshot of a boiler control system used at Fawley power station, Hampshire, UK. Each boiler (as seen here) is powered by heavy fuel oil

Miner at work within the Great Harwood Colliery - digging our Cock Bridge House Coal " so much esteemed for us in Farm

Trinidad Oilfield, West Indies Date: 1910s

Pennsylvania, USA (chromolitho)
3656908 Pennsylvania, USA (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pennsylvania, USA)

Colliery (colour litho)
3643724 Colliery (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Colliery. Illustration for Graphic Stories of Industries (Collins, c 1900).); © Look and Learn

Coal-mine at Treuil, St Etienne, France, showing the trunks of fossil trees traversing the overlying strata of
967887 Coal-mine at Treuil, St Etienne, France, showing the trunks of fossil trees traversing the overlying strata of sandstone (engraving) by English School

COAL / COMPRESSED FUELS
Manufacture of compressed fuels Date: 1884

Pumpjack In A Field, Alberta, Canada

Off-shore oil rig surrounded by sailing fireboat and flying helicopter, underwater cross-section depicting the rigs foundations

Pumpjack In A Canola Field

Oil Pumpjack In A Canola Field

Silhouette Of Two Pump Jacks At Sunrise With Clouds; Alberta, Canada

Silhouette Of Pumpjack With The Orange Glow Of The Sun Rising; Longview, Alberta, Canada

Silhouette Of Pump Jack With The Orange Glow Of The Sun Rising On The Horizon; Longview, Alberta, Canada

Djibouti - Charcoal Depot at the Port. Date: 1920

Stack of firewood

Picture No. 11072635
Mining bucket-wheel excavator at coal mine As Pontes, A Coruna, Galicia, Spain

Smoke-free coal burning C017 / 3709
Smoke-free coal burning on a home fire. This is coal which has been treated by low-temperature carbonisation, removing the parts of coal that create smoke

Creation of oil using designer microbes. Conceptual computer artwork depicting an oil well pump in a petri dish, representing the use of artificially created micro-organisms to produce oil

Caspian Sea oil rig. Oil rigs are large floating platforms used to drill for and pump oil from below the seabed. Oil is the fossil fuel that powers much of the worlds cars and industries

Sulphur extracted from oil, Canada
Sulphur extracted from oil. Aerial photograph of stores of sulphur (yellow) that have been extracted from crude oil and bitumen

Settling pond, Athabasca Oil Sands
Settling pond. Aerial photograph of a settling pond in the Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta, Canada. This area used to be an opencast mine for the excavation of oil sands

Oil sands refinery, Canada, at twilight. The water in the foreground is one of the settling pools used to dispose of waste material after processing

Pool Petrol Rationed
A postcard making a light- hearted comment on the fact that petrol is rationed and that there are no branded fuels, only POOL petrol

Advert for Powell Duffryn 1944
Phurnacite smokeless fuel. Phurnacite is increasing in popularity for Domestic Boilers, stoves and central heating Plants

1945 offshore gas drilling rig, elevated view

Oil pumping station, cross section

Farmer lifting a log

Farmer examining stacked logs

Picture No. 11072634
Mining bucket-wheel excavator at coal mine As Pontes, A Coruna, Galicia, Spain

Picture No. 11067461
Peat Cutting. Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date:

Picture No. 11067460
Peat Cutting. Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date:

Picture No. 11067459
Peat Cutting. Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date:

Picture No. 11067458
Peat Cutting. Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date:

Picture No. 11067457
Peat Cutting. Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Date:

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"Fuels: Powering the Past, Present, and Future" In the 1960s, paraffin heaters warmed homes during chilly nights, reminding us of the crucial role fuels play in our daily lives. Venturing into treacherous waters, oil drilling rigs in the North Sea extract black gold from beneath its depths. The relentless efforts on these offshore platforms fuel our insatiable energy demands. A jackup oil drilling rig stands tall amidst crashing waves in the North Sea - a testament to human ingenuity and determination to harness nature's hidden resources. Navigating vast oceans with immense capacity, oil tankers sail across continents carrying precious cargo that powers industries worldwide. Silhouetted against a breathtaking sunset backdrop, an off-shore oil rig symbolizes mankind's quest for progress as we tap into Earth's reserves deep below its surface. Underneath a starlit sky, an oil refinery illuminates the night with fiery flares and bustling activity, and is here where crude oils are transformed into various forms of energy that propel modern society forward. Amidst darkness and isolation at sea, an oil drilling rig tirelessly drills for riches beneath tumultuous waters in the North Sea - a beacon of hope for future energy supplies. Row upon row of towering structures dotting the horizon signify countless hours spent extracting fossil fuels from deep within Mother Earth – each one contributing to our ever-growing demand for power. Stacked high like sentinels guarding our energy needs; gas storage tanks stand ready to provide us with heat and electricity when called upon by millions around the world. Oil barrels lined up neatly represent both prosperity and controversy – their contents fueling economies while raising concerns about environmental sustainability. An unlikely sight emerges amidst golden wheat fields – an oil pump silently extracting liquid wealth from beneath fertile soil; showcasing how different worlds coexist harmoniously to meet humanity’s thirst for power.