Most people have a basic understanding that oil comes from dead plants/animals/organic matter. However the misconception comes when thinking about which animals and plant remains helped create that oil. I believe a great deal of this misunderstanding comes from the Sinclair Oil symbol—a small, green, sauropod dinosaur named “Dino”. The reason for this symbol has nothing to do with where the oil is coming from, but rather has a more historical story. That story is told in full here...
The term "Fossil Fuel" came from Standatd Oil to indicate petroleum was finite. It isn't - it's abiotic, formed from unknown forces deep inside the earth. Supposedly dry wells have been refilling for years. After water, it's the 2nd largest liquid reservoir on the planet. As well, the chemistry of coal remains a mystery.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't really matter where it comes from. It's a finite resource and we are using it up far faster than the Earth creates it.
ReplyDeleteSaturn's largest moon, Titan has an ocean of hydrocarbons on it.
ReplyDelete