The Origin of Petroleum:

The Mystery Remains

U.G. Romanova & V. Romanov
Prepared by:
Mejares, Rea
Maye Leslie

OUTLINE
Introduction to Petroleum
Theories on the Origin of Petroleum
Evidences of Biogenic and
Abiogenic Origins of Petroleum
Conclusion
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

INTRODUCTION TO PETROLEUM
What is Petroleum?
- is a system of hydrocarbons,
metals, and other components kept
together by a variety of chemical
and physical forces.
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM

1. Biogenic Theory Western school
-biogenic = resulting from biological matter
and stored in sedimentary basins.
2. Abiogenic Theory Russian Ukrainian school
- is a term used to describe a number of
different hypotheses which propose that
petroleumand natural gasare formed by inorganic
means rather than by the decomposition of
organisms.
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

THEORIES
ON
THE
ORIGIN
OF
PETROLEUM
z

Biogenic Origin

The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM

Biogenic Origin

The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM

Abiogenic Origin
D.I. MENDEELEV
- Russian chemist, the founder of the
periodic table
- In 1877, he wrote that the petroleum
deposits seem to be controlled more by the
large scale tectonic features than by the
ages of sedimentary rocks.
- He proposed the:
METAL CARBIDE THEORY
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM

Abiogenic Origin: Mechanisms
METAL CARBIDE THEORY

- In this model, metal carbides deep within the

Earth react with water at high temperatures to form
acetylene which subsequently condenses to form
heavier hydrocarbons.
FISCHER-TROPSCH THEORY
- involves a series of chemical reactions that
produce a variety of hydrocarbons, in particular
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains
alkanes

THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM

Abiogenic Origin: Other
Mechanisms

NEBULAR CONDENSATION MECHANISM

- it suggests that oil and gas to be of
primordial origin and they come to Earth
through meteorites, comets and other terrestrial
materials.

The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

EVIDENCES
BIOGENIC ORIGIN
A. Mostly found in sedimentary rocks
B. Petroleums ability to rotate the
polarization of light
C. Porphyrin content
D. Nitrogen content
E. Similar chemical composition with organic
materials
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

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EVIDENCES
ABIOGENIC ORIGIN
A. Hydrocarbons can be generated in the upper
mantle
B. The formation of adamantane (hydrocarbon
biomarker) from two different mechanisms
C. Field observations related to possible recharge or
infill of oil and gas fields (ex. Azerbaijan &
Tatarstan, Russia)
D. Presence of hydrocarbon in Titan (Saturns moon)
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

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CONCLUSION

The mystery of the origin of

petroleum still remains
unsolved.
The Origin of Petroleum: The Mystery Remains

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THE END
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