The hypothesis of abiogenic petroleum origin (synonyms: abiotic, abyssal, endogenous, inorganic, juvenile, mineral, primordial) holds that petroleum is formed by non-biological processes deep in the earth's crust and mantle. It contradicts the more widely-held view that petroleum is a fossil fuel produced from the remains of ancient living organisms. 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 ...

Including:

• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics
• Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

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Methane is typically found on Earth, when not in natural gas deposits, in methane hydrate deposits under high pressure under the deep abyssal plains of oceans, produced from the decay of sinking biotic materials at shallow levels. Methane's effect as a greenhouse gas is twenty times greater than carbon dioxide. It is possible that major extinction in the history of the earth is due to methane. During the breakup of supercontinent Pangaea in the Triassic Period, an enormous volume of methane was released to the atmosphere. Methane reacts with ...

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Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth

- Ongoing research has changed the status of some information. For example, the evidence of some biomarkers which were interpreted as supporting the biogenic theory has been undermined by finding similar materials in thermophilic bacteria which are part of abiogenic theories. Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils. 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 c ...

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Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results

Abiogenic petroleum origin - 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.^{See also:}

Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory

Many aspects of the abiogenic theory were developed in the former Soviet Union by Russian and Ukrainian 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 topic of the origin of petroleum is also linked to discussions of projected declines in petroleum production, variously referred to as "peak oil" or "Hubbert's peak ...

See also:

Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics

- Ongoing research has changed the status of some information. For example, the evidence of some biomarkers which were interpreted as supporting the biogenic theory has been undermined by finding similar materials in thermophilic bacteria which are part of abiogenic theories. However, internal cognitive dissonance takes over at this point when we realise that theories of abiogenic origins, in using thermophilic bacteria to argue the point, are essentially arguing for it being a biogenic origin.

See also:

Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results

Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields. Russian geologist Nikolai Kudryavtsev was also a prominent and forceful advocate of the abiogenic theory. He argued that no petroleum resembling the chemical composition of natural crudes has ever been made from plant material in the laboratory under conditions resembling those in nature. He gave many examples of substantial and sometimes commercial quantities of petroleum being found in crystalline or metamorphic basements, or in sediments directly overl ...

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Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory

There are two theories about the origin of carbon fuels: the biogenic theory and the abiogenic theory. These theories have been intensely debated since the 1860s, shortly after the discovery of widespread petroleum deposits. The following sections highlight the main differences between the two theories. Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material. Biogenic: remnants of buried plant and animal life. Abiogenic: deep carb ...

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Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin peak oil and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories

Many aspects of the abiogenic theory were developed in the former Soviet Union by Russian and Ukrainian 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 topic of the origin of petroleum is also linked to discussions of projected declines in petroleum production, variously referred to as "peak oil" or "Hubbert's peak ...

See also:

Abiogenic petroleum origin, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Comparison of theories, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Raw material, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Events before conversion, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Conversion to petroleum and methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Formation of coal, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting abiogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Supergiant oil fields, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Extraterrestrial methane, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Existence of hydrocarbon deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Methane on Earth, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Cold planetary formation, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep microbes, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Helium, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Trace metals, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Diamondoids, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Hydrogen, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Thermodynamics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biology, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Serpentinization and chemical synthesis of oil, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep structures and petroleum association, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Why is oil frequently found in sedimentary basins?, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Ambiguous results, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers or Chemofossils, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Deep hot carbon sources, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Evidence supporting biogenic theory, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Unusual deposits, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Biomarkers, Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin, peak oil, and politics, Abiogenic petroleum origin - The future of the abiogenic theory

Read more here: » Abiogenic petroleum origin: Encyclopedia II - Abiogenic petroleum origin - Petroleum origin, peak oil, and politics