Oil from oil wells was first used for what?

Question

Because of its major oil deposits, which South American country was a founding member in 1960 of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the only South American country in OPEC at that time?

Answer 1

Evaporate brine to produce salt
According to George E. Totten, the earliest known oil wells were drilled in China in 347 CE; the oil was burned to produce salt from brine. By the 10th century pipelines connected oil wells with salt springs.