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Old 07-16-2004, 12:35 PM   #1
hot_pastrami
I am meaty
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,119
The origin of oil

This is the first I've heard of this theory, and it's interesting... some scientists believe that crude oil isn't the product of decomposed plant and animal matter from prehistoric times; rather they believe it is the product of a natural, inorganic process that takes place at the very hot interface of the earth's crust and mantle.

Some oil reservoirs tend to refill over time, often from the bottom up, implying a seepage from a larger reservoir underneath. The observations and the science seem to support the theory, as well as filling a few holes in the decayed animal/plant matter theory... such as the question of why large oil fields are sometimes found in areas where it is unlikely that a lot of life was present in prehistory. Here's a news story. If you prefer your science hard, read this.

If this theory is accurate, that would mean that oil is not the limited resource it is currently regarded as; or, the limit is much higher than current estimates, by perhaps 100 times. Oil is still a dirty fuel, and a cleaner alternative would be beneficial, but maybe the oilfields won't by drying up as soon as we think.
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