First attested in 1086–1093, in Shen Kuo's Dream Pool Essays, where the oil was used as ink by the author:
黑光如漆，松墨不及也，遂大為之，其識文為「延川石液」者是也。此物後必大行於世，自余始為之。蓋石油至多，生於地中無窮，不若松木有時而竭。The quality of this kind of ink stick is even better than the one made of pine soot. Hence such ink stick is manufactured in large quantities, “Yanzhou Stone Liquid” being the label carved on its surface. I am the first to make this kind of ink stick and I believe that it will one day become popular, because there is plenty of petroleum in the world gushing from the ground in a steady stream, contrary to the fact that pine trees may sometime be depleted.

Севергин В. М. Каменное масло (Горные породы, Шкапъ No 50) // Краткая опись минеральному кабинету имп. Академии наук. — Б.м., 1821. — C. 14с.