Hydrocarbons in the deep Earth? (Oil comes from non-plant sources)

Physorg.com ^ | July 26, 2009 | Carnegie Institution

[ConservativeMind]

The oil and gas that fuels our homes and cars started out as living organisms that died, were compressed, and heated under heavy layers of sediments in the Earth's crust. Scientists have debated for years whether some of these hydrocarbons could also have been created deeper in the Earth and formed without organic matter. Now for the first time, scientists have found that ethane and heavier hydrocarbons can be synthesized under the pressure-temperature conditions of the upper mantle —the layer of Earth under the crust and on top of the core. The research was conducted by scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, with colleagues from Russia and Sweden, and is published in the July 26, advanced on-line issue of Nature Geoscience.

Methane (CH4) is the main constituent of natural gas, while ethane (C2H6) is used as a petrochemical feedstock. Both of these hydrocarbons, and others associated with fuel, are called saturated hydrocarbons because they have simple, single bonds and are saturated with hydrogen. Using a diamond anvil cell and a laser heat source, the scientists first subjected methane to pressures exceeding 20 thousand times the atmospheric pressure at sea level and temperatures ranging from 1,300 F° to over 2,240 F°.

These conditions mimic those found 40 to 95 miles deep inside the Earth. The methane reacted and formed ethane, propane, butane, molecular hydrogen, and graphite. The scientists then subjected ethane to the same conditions and it produced methane. The transformations suggest heavier hydrocarbons could exist deep down. The reversibility implies that the synthesis of saturated hydrocarbons is thermodynamically controlled and does not require organic matter.

The scientists ruled out the possibility that catalysts used as part of the experimental apparatus were at work, but they acknowledge that catalysts could be involved in the deep Earth with its mix of compounds.

"We were intrigued by previous experiments and theoretical predictions," remarked Carnegie's Alexander Goncharov a coauthor. "Experiments reported some years ago subjected methane to high pressures and temperatures and found that heavier hydrocarbons formed from methane under very similar pressure and temperature conditions. However, the molecules could not be identified and a distribution was likely. We overcame this problem with our improved laser-heating technique where we could cook larger volumes more uniformly. And we found that methane can be produced from ethane."

The hydrocarbon products did not change for many hours, but the tell-tale chemical signatures began to fade after a few days.

Professor Kutcherov, a coauthor, put the finding into context: "The notion that hydrocarbons generated in the mantle migrate into the Earth's crust and contribute to oil-and-gas reservoirs was promoted in Russia and Ukraine many years ago. The synthesis and stability of the compounds studied here as well as heavier hydrocarbons over the full range of conditions within the Earth's mantle now need to be explored. In addition, the extent to which this 'reduced' carbon survives migration into the crust needs to be established (e.g., without being oxidized to CO2). These and related questions demonstrate the need for a new experimental and theoretical program to study the fate of carbon in the deep Earth."

[Jacksonian Grouch]

yeah, but we gotta do something about the marketing; “vat beef” just is not gonna fill the empty chairs at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

We need something catchy - let’s call it “soylent fuchsia” or natural enzymatic green” or some such combination that grabs people by the pants.

:-)

JG

[marron]

California has lots and lots of oil. It gurgles up through the ocean floor. Its all right there for the taking just a couple of miles offshore.

But we won’t go after it. California is bankrupt and has huge unemployment problems, but they won’t touch their oil. Between the royalty payments, and the income taxes, and the sales taxes on equipment purchases, they could put themselves in the black if they would open up drilling offshore but they won’t do it. So I suppose that means they deserve to be bankrupt and unemployed.

[mad_as_he$$]

Based upon other reports I have said this for 15 years. Wells recently reopened have a different chemical make up than the first oil pumped - oh and guess what many are recharged to or greater than the original levels.

[Political Junkie Too]

The fourth obstacle is the desire to make alternative energy economically feasible. Since they can't bring the cost of alternative energy down, they must bring the cost of our current energy up to a level sufficient to make alternative energy economically viable.

-PJ

[SVTCobra03]

The abiotic oil myth surfaces from time to time on FR. This may help:

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/011205_no_free_pt2.shtml

[3niner]

There is much that is not understood about the origin of geological hydrocarbons. The are several, circular oil fields, which appear to have been created by ancient meteor strikes. There are also oil fields, which were depleted decades ago, that are now partially replenished.

[Para-Ord.45]

BM

[HIDEK6]

Russian scientists have been of the opinion that oil is not from organic sources for a long time.

I think that a lot of people thought that the "decaying plants made the oil" theory was a fairy tale.

[GraceG]

Why can;t we call it ECO-BEEF and cash in on the whole green craze.

[Jacksonian Grouch]

can you post links with this info? tx,

JG

[bert]

The research and experiments validate thinking that has been publicized before.

There is likely also methane produced from decay and associated with coal that als9o contributes to the gas production. Some is fossil fuel.

It is likely both not either or

[onedoug]

Please produce any evidence of hydrocarbons being present in any but sedimentary deposits.

Thank you.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

LOL!

[mo]

Here’s an interesting link....

http://www.gasresources.net/Introduction.htm

[onedoug]

...the physical processes which occasion their terrestrial concentration, the dynamical processes of the movement of that material into geological reservoirs of petroleum, and the location and economic production of petroleum.

Other than meta-sediments which have deformed with hydrocarbon deposits in place, why are there no deposits in igneous or metamorphic rock?

This is not supported by the evidence. Sorry.

[the long march]

Then read the article and bone up on some chemistry that doesn’t involve mind altering drugs

[the long march]

But of course your reference does not even address the information in the Physorg article. I mean after all why deal with real research when we can point to the past for our information

[Windflier]

The abiotic oil myth surfaces from time to time on FR.

So does the oil from dinos theory...

[the long march]

Mike is also the Publisher/Editor of From the Wilderness or FTW, a newsletter he founded in March 1998 by mailing out 68 copies to friends and researchers. FTW is now read by more than 20,000 subscribers in 40 countries including 40 members of the US Congress, the intelligence committees of both houses, and professors at 20 universities around the world. Through the newsletter and his website at www.fromthewilderness.com, Mike has pioneered innovative analysis and groundbreaking original stories on the impact of $5-600 billion per year in drug money moving through the US economy and the illegal covert operations which maintain control of that cash flow for US economic interests.

Since 9-11-01 Mike has been the point man in breaking major stories involving government foreknowledge, corruption and violations of the Constitution. He has also pioneered the effort to educate the world about the consequences of Peak Oil — the fact that the world is at or near an inevitable decline in the availability of hydrocarbon energy, and what this might mean for human civilization.

This is the “expert” that is being referenced. Always important to know something about the person giving us info. He is a “political scientist” with time in as a narcotics officer for LAPD. Certainly the guy I trust for analysis.

[Smokin' Joe]

This stuff surfaces from time to time here. I have spent thirty years working in the oil industry, and if anyone has a link to a source which can document the abiotic production of oil, please post it.

Otherwise, the 'Aw geez,...' guy might be more appropriate.

While producing diamonds from coal in the laboratory is theoretically possible, there is not one instance in nature where an economically viable diamond deposit has been found in a coal vein, either.