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To: visagoth
In the past, it was not suspected that oil fields can refill because it was assumed the oil formed in place, or nearby, rather than far below.

This is a key, and very false statement, but it's critical for those making this argument.

In almost every case, geologists and petrophysicists believe that oil is formed in shales or other source rock, and has migrated upward until it reaches a trap or seal which it cannot penetrate. That is almost NEVER where the oil itself was formed.

It leaks upward, just like an air bubble trying surface from underwater. Subtle things, like deep earthquakes, far too mild to be felt at the surface, can fracture rock and permit oil or gas to migrate upward from where it is currently trapped.

I wish I had a dollar for every well I've been involved with that tested rock where it's obvious oil used to be.

Some fields will refill, simply because a new migration path for oil has been opened. It does not imply in any way that the supply of oil is limitless.

7 posted on 04/23/2002 5:13:41 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
I have seen the theory that oil is NOT a fossil fuel resulting from organic decay. This is very much a minority theory, which is considered whacko by the scientific community. But it is at least possible. There's a lot more oil, a lot deeper in the ground, than conventional theory would expect.

We know that there is quite a bit of complex organic material in outer space. That may be another clue that oil doesn't just come from the decay of ancient plants on earth, but could have been among the available components when the planet originally coalesced at the origin of the solar system.

As you say, probably everything runs out sooner or later. But in the case of oil, it may be later. The jury is still out.

12 posted on 04/23/2002 5:33:20 PM PDT by Cicero
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To: Dog Gone
DG what's the average percentage of oil recovered from a well? I know it's small maybe less than 30%?
14 posted on 04/23/2002 5:35:04 PM PDT by deport
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To: Dog Gone
I wish I had a dollar for every well I've been involved with where its obvious oil used to be

You don't mean the dreaded report: GOOD SHOWS, BUT NO COMMERCIAL HYDROCARBONS?

15 posted on 04/23/2002 5:35:22 PM PDT by BOBTHENAILER
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To: Dog Gone
oil is formed in shales or other source rock, and has migrated upward until it reaches a trap or seal which it cannot penetrate
. . . which seems to indicate that oil/gas might be seeping up geologically--i.e. sloooly--all over the place. And we just don't notice that upmigration anywhere except where it gets stopped and a little of it gets trapped?

Not sure just why that

. . . does not imply in any way that the supply of oil is limitless.
It just seems to indicate that a "limitless" supply of (very hot, very high-pressure) hydrocarbons is very deep in the earth, probably mostly if not entirely inaccessible.

18 posted on 04/23/2002 5:42:18 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion
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To: Dog Gone
Some fields will refill, simply because a new migration path for oil has been opened. It does not imply in any way that the supply of oil is limitless.

You must have missed this part of the article:

"Analysis of the ancient oil that seems to be coming up from deep below in the Gulf of Mexico suggests that the flow of new oil "is coming from deeper, hotter formations” and is not simply a lateral inflow from the old deposits that surround existing oil fields..."

55 posted on 04/24/2002 2:56:12 PM PDT by webwide
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