Thanks.
The article title does not match the content:
“About 99 percent of all the hydrocarbons in oil and natural gas are derived from the compressed, heated remains of ancient living organisms like zooplankton and algae. These critters were buried under layers of sediments five to 10 miles beneath the surface of the Earth.”
“About 99 percent of all the hydrocarbons in oil and natural gas are derived from the compressed, heated remains of ancient living organisms like zooplankton and algae. These critters were buried under layers of sediments five to 10 miles beneath the surface of the Earth.”
I believe some portion of that 99 percent dino oil is due to the presence of certain organic markers. In a paper about ten years ago examining the Eugene Island field in Louisiana, Dr. Jan Wheelin of Woods Hole Oceanographic theorized the organic markers thought to be from living material could in fact have been acquired by abiogenic oil interacting with microorganisms in the crust. Yes microorganisms are found many miles down in the crust.
Yeah, it does...
"A new study demonstrates how high hydrocarbons could be formed from methane deep within the Earth, aside from the compression and heating of ancient animal remains over the eons. Fused-methane oil would be far less common than your typical petroleum, of course, but the study shows abiogenic hydrocarbons could conceivably occur in some of the planet’s high-pressure and high-temperature zones."
The comment about zooplankton and algae seems to refer to the fact that traces of them are found in the hydrocarbons in oil and natural gas.
I think it was sort of stupid for the author to stick that bit of cross information in there, but the general tone of the article does explore the evidence for the abiotic origin of crude oil.