The theory of abiogenic petroleum origin states that petroleum (or crude oil) is primarily created from non-biological sources of hydrocarbons located deep in the Earth. The theory stands in contrast to the more widely held conventional view that petroleum is created from the remains of ancient living matter. The constituent precursors of petroleum (mainly methane) are commonplace and it is possible that appropriate conditions exist for hydrocarbons to be formed deep within the Earth. Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and oleum – oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths crust. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petrus – rock and oleum – oil), mineral oil, or crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths... Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = reasoned account). ... In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is a group of chemical compounds consisting only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ... Earth, also known as the Earth or Terra, is the third planet outward from the Sun. ... This article is not about the fictional alien race. ... The simplest hydrocarbon, methane, is a gas with a chemical formula of CH4. ...

Although this theory is supported by a large minority of geologists in Russia, where it was intensively developed in the 1950s and 1960s, it has only recently begun to receive attention in the West, where the biogenic theory is still believed by the vast majority of petroleum geologists. Planetary scientist Thomas Gold was one of the abiogenic theory's greatest proponents in recent years.^{[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_Gold1999)} Although it was originally denied that abiogenic hydrocarbons exist at all on earth, this is now accepted by Western geologists. The orthodox position now is that while abiogenic hydrocarbons exist, they are not produced in commercially significant quantities, so that essentially all hydrocarbons that are extracted for use as fuel or raw materials are biogenic. A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology. ... Thomas Gold (May 22, 1920 – June 22, 2004) was an Austrian astrophysicist, a professor of astronomy at Cornell University and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. ...

A variation of the abiogenic theory includes alteration by microbes similar to those which form the basis of the ecology around deep hydrothermal vents. A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... Hydrothermal vents are fissures in a planets surface from which geothermally heated water issues. ...

One prediction of this theory is that other planets of the solar system or their moons have large petroleum oceans, either from hydrocarbons present at the formation of the solar system, or subsequent chemical reactions. Mosaic of the planets of the solar system, excluding Pluto, and including Earths Moon. ... A chemical reaction is a process involving one, two or more substances (called reactants), characterized by a chemical change and yielding one or more product(s) which are different from the reactants. ...

That this theory is receiving increasing attention from Western geologists is indicated by the fact that the American Association of Petroleum Geologists scheduled a conference ^{[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_AAPG2004)} to meet in Vienna in July 2004 entitled "Origin of Petroleum—Biogenic and/or Abiogenic and Its Significance in Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production". The conference had to be canceled, however, due to financial considerations. Instead, AAPG will be holding a one-day session on the topic at the June 2005 annual meeting in Calgary, Alberta. If the theory is correct, then it could greatly change future energy development. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (or AAPG) is currently the worlds largest professional geological society with over 30,000 members as of 2004. ... {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Heart of the new west City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Location. ... Energy development is the ongoing effort to provide abundant and accessible energy, through knowledge, skills and constructions. ...

Comparison of theories

There are two theories on the origin of carbon fuels: the biogenic theory and the abiogenic theory. The two theories have been intensely debated since the 1860s, shortly after the discovery of widespread petroleum deposits. There are several differences between the biogenic and abiogenic theories. Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ...

Raw material

• Biogenic: remnants of buried plant and animal life.
• Abiogenic: deep carbon deposits from when the planet formed or subducted material.

The Juan de Fuca plate sinks below the North America plate at the Cascadia subduction zone. ...

Events before conversion

• Biogenic: Large quantities of organic matter derived from dead plant and animal life were buried. Sediments accumulating over the material slowly compressed it and covered it. At a depth of several hundred meters, catagenesis converts it to bitumens and kerogens.
• Abiogenic: At depths of hundreds of kilometers, carbon deposits are a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules which leak upward through the crust. Much of the material becomes methane.

Catagenesis can refer to: The cracking process in which organic kerogens are broken down into hydrocarbons (see catagenesis (geology)) Retrogressive evolution, as contrasted with anagenesis (see catagenesis (biology)) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Bitumen Bitumen is a category of organic liquids which are highly viscous, black, sticky and wholly soluble in carbon disulfide. ... Kerogens are chemical compounds, often found to be formed by the low-grade metamorphism (i. ...

Conversion to petroleum and methane

• Biogenic: Catagenesis occurs as the depth of burial increases and the heat and pressure breaks down kerogens to form petroleum.
• Abiogenic: When the material passes through temperatures at which extremophile microbes can survive some of it will be consumed and converted to heavier hydrocarbons.

Catagenesis can refer to: The cracking process in which organic kerogens are broken down into hydrocarbons (see catagenesis (geology)) Retrogressive evolution, as contrasted with anagenesis (see catagenesis (biology)) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and oleum – oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths crust. ... An extremophile is an organism, usually unicellular, which thrives in or requires extreme conditions. ...

Formation of coal

• Biogenic: Coal is organic material which was buried and compressed but did not undergo catagenesis into kerogens.
• Abiogenic: Coal is organic material which was filled with hydrocarbons which seeped into the deposit. This can happen on the surface, such as in a swamp with methane and petroleum seeps.

Evidence supporting abiogenic theory

Supergiant oil fields

Nikolai Alexandrovitch Kudryavtsev, a great russian geologist, was the first to enunciate the modern abiotic theory of petroleum. He studied the Athabasca Tar Sands in Alberta, Canada and concluded that no "source rocks" could form the enormous volume of hydrocarbons. Therefore only abiotic deep petroleum is plausible to explain. Tar sands in Alberta The Athabasca Tar Sands is a large deposit of tar sands in north-western Canada located mainly in the province of Alberta and, to a much lesser degree Saskatchewan. ...

Cold planetary formation

In the late 19th century it was believed that the Earth was extremely hot, possibly completely molten, during its formation. One reason for this was that a cooling, shrinking, planet was necessary in order to explain geologic changes such as mountain formation. A hot planet would have caused methane and other hydrocarbons to be outgassed and oxidized into carbon dioxide and water, thus there would be no carbon remaining under the surface. Planetary science now recognizes that formation was a relatively cool process until radioactive materials accumulate together deep in the planet. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Recent testing of a zircon, at 4.4 billion years old the world's oldest rock, suggests rocks which formed at temperatures low enough for liquid water. The Moon formed only shortly before this time. ^{[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_Valley2002)}

For the spy satellite of this codename see Zircon (satellite). ... Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ...

Known hydrocarbon sources

Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites contain kerogen-like carbon and hydrocarbons. Heated under pressure, this material would release hydrocarbon fluids in addition to creating solid carbon deposits. Further, at least ten bodies in our solar system are known to contain at least traces of hydrocarbons. Chondrules in the chondrite Grassland. ... Worlds second largest Meteorite in Culiacan, Mexico A meteorite is a relatively small extra-terrestrial body that reaches the Earths surface. ... Kerogens are chemical compounds, often found to be formed by the low-grade metamorphism (i. ... Mosaic of the planets of the solar system, excluding Pluto, and including Earths Moon. ...

Meteorite ALH84001, believed to be from Mars, contains carbonate minerals which were formed about 3.9 billion years ago. The deposits are in igneous rock. On Earth, microorganisms often create carbonates. However, the material could also have been formed by water carrying carbon dioxide, or by hot carbon-dioxide-bearing fluids. meteorite fragment ALH84001 ALH84001 (a contraction of Allen Hills 1984 #001) is a meteorite found in Allen Hills, Antarctica in December 1984 by a team of US meteorite hunters from the ANSMET project, among 7,000 others. ... Mars, with polar ice caps visible. ... Carbonate is an anion with a charge of -2 and an empirical formula of CO32-. An aqueous solution of carbon dioxide contains a minute amount of H2CO3, called carbonic acid, which dissociates to form hydrogen ions and carbonate ions. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ... Water (from the Anglo-Saxon and Low German wæter) is a colourless, tasteless, and odourless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is the most universal solvent. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

Kerogen-like material has also been detected in interstellar clouds and dust particles around stars.

Methane On Earth

Methane is typically found on Earth, when not in gas deposits, in methane hydrate deposits under high pressure under deep abyssal plains of oceans, ostensibly forming from the decay of sinking biotic materials. These methane hydrates do subduct in many areas toward the mantle and may thus provide the methane needed to supply a constant supply of petroleum seeping upwards into traps where it collects. Burning ice. Methane released by heating burns, water drips. ... Abyssal plains are flat or very gently sloping areas of the ocean basin floor where rocks gradually sink into the ground because they have no supporting heat energy below them; the worlds flattest and smoothest regions are caused by this effect. ...

Methane not on Earth

Methane has been detected or is believed to exist in several locations of the solar system. It is believed to have been created by abiotic processes, except possibly on Mars. Mosaic of the planets of the solar system, excluding Pluto, and including Earths Moon. ... Scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars, due to that planets proximity and similarity to Earth. ...

• Jupiter
• Mars
• Saturn
  • Iapetus
  • Titan
• Neptune
  • Triton
• Uranus
  • Ariel
  • Miranda
  • Oberon
  • Titania
  • Umbriel
• Comet Halley
• Comet Hyakutake

In 2004, the Cassini spacecraft confirmed methane clouds and hydrocarbons on Titan, a moon of Saturn. Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 70 kPa Hydrogen ~86% Helium ~14% Methane 0. ... Mars, with polar ice caps visible. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... Iapetus (eye-ap-i-tus, Greek Ιαπετός) (British spelling -- Japetus) is the third-largest moon of Saturn (see: Saturns natural satellites), discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1671. ... Titan (tye-tun, IPA ; Greek Τιτάνας) is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest moon in the solar system[1], after Jupiters moon Ganymede. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 100-300 kPa Hydrogen >84% Helium >12% Methane 2% Ammonia 0. ... Triton (TRY ton) is the planet Neptunes largest moon, discovered by William Lassell in 1846 just 17 days after the planet itself was discovered (Lassell incorrectly believed that he had also seen a ring around Neptune). ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 120 kPa Hydrogen 83% Helium 15% Methane 1. ... Atmospheric pressure 0 kPa Ariel (AIR ee el) is a moon of Uranus discovered in 1851 by William Lassell. ... Miranda (mi-ran-da) is the smallest and innermost of Uranus major moons. ... Atmospheric pressure 0 kPa Oberon (O ber on) is the outermost of the major moons of the planet Uranus. ... Titania should not be confused with Titan, a moon of Saturn. ... Click for full description. ... Comet Halley as taken with the Halley Multicolor Camera on the ESA Giotto mission. ... Hyakutake picture from March 1996 Comet Hyakutake (formally C/1996 B2) was discovered by Yuji Hyakutake on January 30, 1996. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is an artists concept of Cassini during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) maneuver, just after the main engine has begun firing. ... Titan (tye-tun, IPA ; Greek Τιτάνας) is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest moon in the solar system[1], after Jupiters moon Ganymede. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ...

Traces of methane gas also are in the thin atmosphere of the Earth's Moon. Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ...

Methane has also been detected in interstellar clouds. Interstellar cloud is the generic name given to accumulations of gas and dust in our galaxy. ...

Unusual deposits

Hydrocarbon deposits have been found in places that are said to be poorly explained by biogenic theory. Some oil fields are being refilled from deep sources, although this does not rule out a deep biogenic source rock. In the White Tiger field in Vietnam and many wells in Russia, oil and natural gas are being produced from reservoirs in granite basement rock. In the Vietnamese case, this rock is believed to have no oil-producing sediments under it, so the biogenic theory requires the oil to have migrated laterally dozens of kilometers along faults from source rock. Granite - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Deep microbes

Microbial life has been discovered 4.2 kilometers deep in Alaska and 5.2 kilometers deep in Sweden. Methanophile organisms have been known for some time, and recently it was found that microbial life in Yellowstone National Park is based on hydrogen metabolism. Other deep and hot extremophile organisms continue to be discovered. State nickname: The Last Frontier, The Land of the Midnight Sun Other U.S. States Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Governor Frank Murkowski Official languages English Area 1,717,854 km² (1st)  - Land 1,481,347 km²  - Water 236,507 km² (13. ... Yellowstone National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. ... An extremophile is an organism, usually unicellular, which thrives in or requires extreme conditions. ...

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist Frank Chapelle and his colleagues from the USGS and the University of Massachusetts have discovered a potential analog for life on other planets. A community of Archaea is thriving deep in the subsurface source of a hot spring in Idaho. Geothermal hydrogen, not organic carbon, is the primary energy source for this methanogen-dominated microbial community. This is the first documented case of a microbial community completely dominated by Archaea.^{[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_Chapelle2002)} The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... Phyla / Classes Phylum Crenarchaeota Phylum Euryarchaeota     Halobacteria     Methanobacteria     Methanococci     Methanopyri     Archaeoglobi     Thermoplasmata     Thermococci Phylum Korarchaeota Phylum Nanoarchaeota The Archaea are a major group of prokaryotes. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne Official languages none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ...

Diamondoids

Tiny diamondoids occur in oils and condensates. They have similar diamond structure and probably the same origin, i.e. from earth´s mantle. A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ...

Helium

Helium gas has close association with petroleum. Although ³He is primordial, much He gas is from radioactive decay of uranium. Helium gas is associated with light oils, sometimes accompanied by nitrogen that allow petroleum to reach shallow levels in crust. General Name, Symbol, Number Uranium, U, 92 Chemical series Actinides Period, Block 7, f Density, Hardness 19050 kg/m3, 6 Appearance silvery-white metal Atomic properties Atomic weight 238. ...

Trace metals

Nickel (Ni),vanadium (V),lead (Pb),arsenic (As),cadmium (Cd),mercury (Hg) and others metals frequently occur in oils. Some heavy crude oils have up to % in vanadium. These metals are common in earth´s mantle. General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10 , 4, d Density, Hardness 8908 kg/m³, 4. ... General Name, Symbol, Number vanadium, V, 23 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 5 , 4 , d Density, Hardness 6110 kg/m3, 7. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Poor metals Group, Period, Block 14(IVA), 6 , p Density, Hardness 11340 kg/m3, 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number arsenic, As, 33 Series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15 (VA), 4, p Density, Hardness 5727 kg/m3, 3. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Cadmium, Cd, 48 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 5, d Density, Hardness 8650 kg/m3, 2 Appearance Silvery gray metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 112. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12 (IIB), 6, d Density, Hardness liquid 13. ...

Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics prohibits spontaneous generation of hydrocarbons heavier than methane at low pressures. Thermodynamic calculations and experimental studies confirm that n-alkanes (common petroleum components) do not spontaneously evolve from methane at pressures typically found in sedimentary basins, and so the theory of an abiotic origin of hydrocarbons suggests deep generation (below 200 km ^{[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_Kenney)}. ) In physics, the second law of thermodynamics, in its many forms, is a statement about the quality and direction of energy flow, and it is closely related to the concept of entropy. ... An alkane in organic chemistry is a type of hydrocarbon in which the molecule has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms and so has no double bonds (they are saturated). ...

Biology

Life as we know is mainly based on carbon. First living organisms (archaeobacteria) of course needed to food and this food at least was primordial methane or petroleum. They live at deep levels in crust and they are oil contaminants too became into parts of biomarkers found in natural petroleum. Photossynthesys is a very complicated process that primitive organisms got to achieve the surface of our planet, probably this situation occurred with its evolution seeking for food when petroleum or methane upwelling locally ceased, then making your own food, i.e. autotrophs.

Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Another possible formation of inorganic oil is by Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. This process occurs when mantle peridotite is hydrolysed became serpentinite, releasing hydrogen. In presence of catalyst transition metals (e.g. Fe, Ni) hydrogen reacts with carbon dioxide from carbonate rocks and results n-alkanes (hydrocarbons).

Deep structures and petroleum association

Petroleum is found in close correlation to deep structures in the earth, mainly over crustal plate limits (convergent as subduction or continental collision and divergent boundaries). Also over meteorite impact structures since faults can reach earth's mantle. When observe distribuition of oil fields along the arcs for instance Indonesia, Persian Gulf, Apenines in Italy (gas and oil fields), Alaska, Barbados Arc continuing towards Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela, Atlantic rift and riftogenic basins, this can be confirmed.

Why oil is frequently found in sedimentary basins?

This is because sedimentary basins fill and cover depression areas where occurred deep faults associated to plate limits (rifts, convergent subduction or collision between two plates) and sedimentary strata form good reservoirs (pore spaces) and seals that trap hydrocarbons and these reservoirs are connected to deep sources, through deep faults. Petroleum also occur in crystalline basement but most petroleum companies prefer to drill sedimentary basins, maybe looking for large reservoirs and/or by erroneous idea that petroleum would be form from organic debris(cooking of kerogen).

Ambiguous results

Ongoing research has changed the status of some information. For example, some biomarkers which were interpreted as evidence supporting the biogenic theory have been undermined by finding similar materials in thermophilic situations which are part of abiogenic theories.

Biomarkers

Chemicals of biological origin have been found in many geologic hydrocarbon deposits. These biomarkers were believed to be from known surface sources. Due to the difficulty in culturing and sampling deep heat-loving bacteria, thermophiles, little was known of their chemistry. As more is learned of bacterial chemistry, more biomarkers seem likely to be due to bacterial action. Hopanoids, called the 'most abundant natural products on Earth', were believed to be indicators of oil derived from ferns and lichens but are now known to be created by many bacteria, including archaea. Sterane was thought to have come from processes involving surface deposits but is now known to be produced by several prokaryotes including methanotrophic proteobacteria. A Biosignature, generally, is a measurable phenomenon that indicates the presence of life. ... Thermophiles produce some of the bright colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park A thermophile is an organism – a type of extremophile – which thrives at relatively high temperatures, up to about 60 °C. Many thermophiles are archaea. ... Prokaryotes are unicellular (in rare cases, multicellular) organisms without a nucleus. ...

Deep hot carbon sources

Carbonate lava

Carbonatites are intrusive carbonate-mineral-rich igneous rocks. Although they are deposits of carbon from an igneous source, the geology behind their creation is not understood. Carbonatites are intrusive igneous rock structures with more than 50% carbonate content, many of which contain distinctive abundances of apatite, magnetite, barite, and fluorite, that may contain economic or anomalous concentrations of rare earth elements, phosphorus, niobium, uranium, thorium, copper, iron, titanium, barium, fluorine, zirconium, and other rare or incompatible... Carbonate is an anion with a charge of -2 and an empirical formula of CO32-. An aqueous solution of carbon dioxide contains a minute amount of H2CO3, called carbonic acid, which dissociates to form hydrogen ions and carbonate ions. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ...

Hydrothermal vents

Hydrothermal vents expel mineral-rich geothermally heated water. Hydrothermal vents are fissures in a planets surface from which geothermally heated water issues. ...

• Carbon dioxide abiogenically produced from magma: As magma outgasses helium and carbon dioxide at depths less than 60 km, there should be deep carbon fluids present in areas such as oceanic ridges where the magma is able to heat surface waters.
• Microbes can create methane: Extremophile methanogens such as Methanopyrus can convert CO2 to methane.
• Methane can also be created chemically: Iron in rock can release hydrogen from water, then carbon dioxide can combine with the hydrogen to produce methane and water. University of Minnesota researchers discovered that rocks rich in chromium minerals can encourage chemical methane production, while also producing the more complex hydrocarbons ethane and propane.
• Methane and carbon dioxide may be dissolved in water which enters hydrothermal vent systems.
• Hydrothermal vents might release methane and carbon from deposits of biological origin, although this is less likely in vents at spreading oceanic ridges.

This article is about the type of molten rock. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Helium, He, 2 Atomic mass 4. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... An oceanic ridge is an underwater mountain range, usually formed by plate tectonics. ... An extremophile is an organism, usually unicellular, which thrives in or requires extreme conditions. ... Methanogens are Archaea that produce methane as a metabolic by-product. ... Binomial name Methanopyrus kandleri AV19 Slesarev AI et al. ... The simplest hydrocarbon, methane, is a gas with a chemical formula of CH4. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metal Group, Period, Block 8 (VIIIB), 4, d Density, Hardness 7874 kg/m3, 4. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1 (IA), 1, s Density, Hardness 0. ... Affectionately referred to by locals as the U or U of M, The University of Minnesota is a large university with several campuses spread throughout the U.S. state of Minnesota. ... General Name, Symbol, Number chromium, Cr, 24 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6 (VIB), 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 51. ... Ethane is a chemical compound with chemical formula C2H6. ... A three-carbon alkane, propane is sometimes derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing. ...

Evidence supporting biogenic theory

Unusual deposits

While it is true that some oil fields do not conform to the standard model of a fixed amount of oil trapped in a sedimentary basin, these examples are accommodated by the biogenic model. For example, the White Tiger field (Cuu Long Basin) cited above is located in an area where significant normal faulting brings relatively young sedimentary rocks into contact with older, fractured horst blocks of igneous rocks.^{[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin#endnote_Brown2005)} The produced oil is described as typically lacustrine (derived from lake deposits), consistent with the migration of hydrocarbons from the organic-rich sediments into the fractured basement. Old fault exposed by roadcut near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. ... Two types of sedimentary rock: limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... In physical geography and geology, a horst is the raised fault block bounded by normal faults. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ...

In Eugene Island 330, a large production area of that is currently being recharged, a deep source rock is indicated, and the chemical composition of the recharging oil strongly indicates that it is leaking from a deep, intermediate reservoir.

US continuous hydrocarbon reservoirs.

One type of unusual deposit that one might to expect to find if the abiogenic hypothesis is true would be hydrocarbons trapped in sedimentary basins that do not contain conventional source rocks. Evidence for such deposits is lacking. Many economically disappointing wells have been drilled into geologic structures that would be expected to trap hydrocarbons, but there are no hydrocarbons present. Oil companies have learned that an appropriate source rock is necessary before they will commit to drilling a well in a potential new field. Continuous hydrocarbon reservoirs, identified by play numbers of the 1995 USGS National Assessment. ... Continuous hydrocarbon reservoirs, identified by play numbers of the 1995 USGS National Assessment. ...

Biomarkers

It has been argued that the abiogenic theory does not explain the detection of various biomarkers in petroleum. Microbial consumption does not yet explain some trace chemicals found in deposits. Materials which suggest certain biological processes include tetracyclic diterpane and oleanane. Although extremophile microorganisms exist deep underground and some metabolize carbon, some of these biomarkers are only known so far to be created in surface plants. This evidence is consistent with the biogenic hypothesis, although it might be true that these hydrocarbons have merely been in contact with ancient plant residues. There also is evidence that low-temperature relatives of hyperthermophiles are widespread, so it is also possible for biological deposits to have been altered by low-temperature bacteria which are similar to deeper heat-loving relatives. An extremophile is an organism, usually unicellular, which thrives in or requires extreme conditions. ...

Petroleum origin, peak oil, and politics

The topic of the origin of petroleum is linked to discussions of projected declines in petroleum production, variously referred to with such terms as "peak oil" or "Hubbert's peak". Also, as many aspects of the abiogenic theory were developed in the former Soviet Union by Russian and Ukranian scientists during the Cold War, some proponents see a pro-Western bias in the promotion of the biogenic theory. Thus, in addition to the scientific merits of competing hypothoses, political and economic considerations often influence discussions of petroleum origins. The Hubbert peak theory, also known as peak oil, is an influential theory concerning the long-term rate of conventional oil production and depletion. ... Marion King Hubbert (October 5, 1903 - October 11, 1989) was a geophysicist who worked at the Shell research lab in Houston, Texas. ... Ukraine (Україна, Ukrayina in Ukrainian; Украина in Russian) is a republic in eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea to the south. ... A cold war is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, acts of espionage or conflict through surrogates. ...

For example, some opponents of the 2003 invasion of Iraq believe that the prospect of declining oil production, supported by the biogenic theory, lead the United States to secure Iraqi oil supplies through military action. Some environmentalists accuse abiogenic theory supporters of a "cornucopian" worldview that incorrectly sees no limits to human exploitation of petroleum supplies. Conversely, some supporters of the abiogenic theory accuse their opponents of an unwarranted Malthusian viewpoint that needlessly limits the use of hydrocarbons as an energy source. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, also called simply the Iraq War or Operation: Iraqi Freedom, was a war that began March 20, 2003, fought between a group of troops consisting primarily of American and British, but also Polish, Australian and several other nations forces, and Iraq. ... Environmentalism is activism aimed at improving the environment, particularly nature. ... A cornucopian (derived from the word cornucopia; sometimes called an anti-Malthusian, from their opposition to the neo-Malthusians and the theories of Thomas Malthus) is one who holds any of a variety of views that are not in the ordinary sense simply optimistic about progress and confident in technological... The Rev. ...

These aspects of the controversy may be seen in many of the online articles in the External links section below.

See also

• Mineral fuel, also known as Fossil fuel

Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels, also known as mineral fuels, are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. ... Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels, also known as mineral fuels, are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. ...

References

1. ^  Gold, Thomas (1999). The deep, hot biosphere. Copernicus Books. ISBN 0387985468.
2. ^  "New AAPG Hedberg Conference in Vienna (http://www.mail-archive.com/fogri@iagi.or.id/msg00802.html)." AAPG. Accessed on April 15, 2005.
3. ^  John W. Valley, William H. Peck, Elizabeth M.King, Simon A. Wilde (2002). "A Cool Early Earth". Geology 30: 351-354. DOI:10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0351:ACEE>2.0.CO;2 10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0351:ACEE>2.0.CO;2 (http://dx.doi.org/) "A Cool Early Earth (http://www.geology.wisc.edu/zircon/cool_early/cool_early_home.html)." Zircons Are Forever. Accessed on April 11, 2005.
4. ^  Chapelle, F.H., O'Neill, K., Bradley, P.M., Methe, B.A., Ciufo, S.A., Knobel, L.L., and Lovley, D.R. (2002). "A hydrogen-based subsurface microbial community dominated by methanogens". Nature 415: 312-315. DOI:10.1038/415312a (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/415312a)
5. ^  "The Prohibition of Hydrocarbon Genesis at Low Pressures (http://www.gasresources.net/ThrmcCnstrnts.htm)." Gas Resources Corporation. Accessed on April 15, 2005.
6. ^  Brown, David (2005). "Vietnam finds oil in the basement". AAPG Explorer 26 (2): 8-11. Article link (http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2005/02feb/vietnam.cfm)

April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a permanent identifier given to a World Wide Web file or other Internet document so that if its Internet address changes, users will be redirected to its new address. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a permanent identifier given to a World Wide Web file or other Internet document so that if its Internet address changes, users will be redirected to its new address. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Fuel's Paradise (Wired) (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.07/gold_pr.html)
• Abiogenic Gas Debate 11:2002 (EXPLORER) (http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2002/11nov/abiogenic.cfm)
• The Mystery of Eugene Island 330 (Science Frontiers) (http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf124/sf124p10.htm)
• The Origin of Methane (and Oil) in the Crust of the Earth (Thomas Gold) (http://people.cornell.edu/pages/tg21/usgs.html)
• Gas Resources Corporation collection of documents (http://www.gasresources.net/index.htm)
• Abiotic oil debate (http://www.questionsquestions.net/docs04/peakoil1.html)
• Gas Origin Theories to be Studied (American Association of Petroleum Geologists) (http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2002/11nov/abiogenic.cfm)
• Abiogenic formation of alkanes in the Earth's crust as a minor source for global hydrocarbon reservoirs (Nature) (http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v416/n6880/abs/416522a_fs.html)
• Geobiology @ MIT about biomarkers (http://eaps.mit.edu/geobiology/biomarkers.html)
• The "Abiotic Oil" Controversy (http://www.museletter.com/archive/150b.html) (refuting) by Richard Heinberg
• No Free Lunch, Part 2: If Abiotic Oil Exists, Where Is It? (http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/011205_no_free_pt2.shtml) Article by Dale Allen Pfeiffer at FromTheWilderness
• More Petroleum-related articles at FromTheWilderness (http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/index.shtml#oil)
• Dismissal of the Claims of a Biological Connection for Natural Petroleum. (http://www.gasresources.net/DisposalBioClaims.htm)