Correct Option
The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Petroleum (crude oil) is a naturally occurring fossil fuel found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. The history of its exploration marks the beginning of the modern industrial energy sector.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1: Correct
The world’s first commercial oil well was drilled by Colonel Edwin L. Drake in Titusville, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1859. This event is widely recognized as the birth of the modern petroleum industry. - Statement 2: Incorrect
In India, oil was first struck at Makum (Assam) in 1867, and the first commercial refinery was established at Digboi, Assam, in 1901. Bombay High is an offshore oilfield discovered much later by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in 1974. - Statement 3: Correct
The Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin is a proven petroliferous basin located along the east coast of India. It contains significant reserves of both crude oil (e.g., Rava field) and natural gas.
Key Takeaway
The first oil well in the world was drilled in Pennsylvania (1859). In India, the oldest oil-producing region is Assam (Digboi), whereas Bombay High was discovered in the 1970s.