Where would an earlier oil-fired fleet get fuel?

Where would Britain obtain and support enough oil for an earlier oil-fired fleet?

The oil and extraction methods already existed; a credible naval requirement would encourage companies to secure supplies and build the necessary storage and distribution system.

Iran and other sources within the Empire are raised as possible suppliers for an earlier oil-fired fleet. A funded Admiralty requirement could encourage companies to search for and exploit oil. The oil and extraction methods were available before the Queen Elizabeth programme, while storage was built in response to ship orders. Confidence in the boilers and their operational advantages remained the limiting factors. Earlier machinery development could therefore pull the supporting infrastructure forward.