The True Origin of Hydrocarbons

Oil & Natural Gas / Conventional Oil & Gas Resources / ID, Fingerprints

Date posted: 08/27/15

Suresh Bansal asks the question - Is the oil we rely on for energy really derived from organic sources (as per fossil fuel theory), or is it constantly being regenerated within the mantle from rocks (as per abiogenic oil theory)?\n\nScientists have sufficient evidence showing that commercially interesting hydrocarbons have been expelled from organic rich source rock and are trapped in the reservoir rocks. We also have compelling evidence demonstrating the presence of biological molecules in commercial oils.\n\nBut in addition to the evidence of an organic origin to oil and natural gas, we have observed the abundance of similar hydrocarbons on many other planetary bodies viz. comets and moons (e.g., Titan) etc. For example, Uranus atmosphere is about 83% hydrogen, 15% helium and 2% methane; Saturn is composed of mostly helium and hydrogen with traces of methane. Neptune atmosphere is made up predominately of hydrogen and helium, with some methane.\n\nThese extra-terrestrial sources are therefore determined to have been formed without any involvement of any biological material.\n\nThe common association of hydrocarbons with the inert gas helium is also not explainable in current theory of biotic origin of petroleum. We have observed presence of some traces element like V, Ni, Cu, Co, Zn., etc., in hydrocarbons which also do not clearly explain the biotic origin of petroleum (Szatmari, et al,2005). According to the author of the paper, they have analyzed 68 Brazilian oil and nine foreign oils and determined 24 metal traces in the oils showing fine correlation of the oils with CI chondrite and mantle peridotites, and less correlation with oceanic and continental crust, with none with seawater.\n\nSo we require a new theory that can reconcile the strong evidences of both the current theories. Relying on the best evidences of both the theories we should be able to resolve it.