Crude Oil as a Sustainable Resource?

[Mayhim]

I found this very interesting article over on BITOG, explaining a bit about how crude oil may be produced by geologic forces rather than organic. Definitely worth a read regardless of where you stand.

HERE

[skewbe]

wishful thinking

[Mayhim]

Rather than your flavor? How dare I!

[skewbe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenic_petroleum_origin

[kamesama980]

yes, every other theory leading up to or revolving around it was disproved, but this one must be true anyway!!! Likewise, when I flew to asia and back this summer my sight wasn't limited by the curve of the earth but by air diffusing and refracting the light.

How bout this theory, mass extinctions have happened more than once and there's been more than two geologic ages ('now' and 'dinosaurs') in the last 4 billion years and thus there's more than one layer of oil. we pump one layer out, the now empty space rearranges itself and new supplys are leaked in.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Do ya have any more on the reformation of methane into crude via high temperature/pressure? I tried googling and couldn't find anything.

[Mayhim]

Some things here...

Google

[trebuchet03]

I had posted something related to this in the peak oil thread....

In General western geologists follow the biotic theory. Russia and a few other countries follow the abiotic theory. The Russians have had some success with finding oil based on their theory. But years ago, we all but laughed at the Russian geologists when they brought their theory forward. Now, they're really not talking.

In any case - a renewable resource does not mean it's sustainable That's not to say the title isn't misleading...

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

Some things here...

Google

Those seem to be about only methane/formation/extraction, not conversion of methane to crude. Got anything else?

[Mayhim]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

I had posted something related to this in the peak oil thread....

In General western geologists follow the biotic theory. Russia and a few other countries follow the abiotic theory. The Russians have had some success with finding oil based on their theory. But years ago, we all but laughed at the Russian geologists when they brought their theory forward. Now, they're really not talking.

In any case - a renewable resource does not mean it's sustainable That's not to say the title isn't misleading...

Your post is probably what made that article catch my eye.

Who's to say it isn't produced both ways? And who's can say it isn't happening at all? Since nobody has yet developed an anal scope to the world and actually had a peek, it's all educated guessing anyway. Since there are so many things about how things work that we don't yet know I'd say it's simple parochialism to deny it happening. Time will tell, but we may not be here for the headlines.

And "sustainable" arguments may just be quibbling.