Oil has been used for over 5,000 years. Oil was seeping through to the surface of the earth, providing ancient societies such as the the Sumerians (4000 BC) and Babylonians (1894 BC) sufficient resources for their purposes.
They would primarily use Asphalt from the seeps along the Euphrates as mortar and for waterproofing.
Ancient Egyptians used liquid oil for Embalming and medicinal purposes.