Massive deposits of oil and gas appear to form during tens, not millions of years, as scientists previously used to think.
      
      Group of scientists from the Institute of Oil and Gas Problems have developed a concept of modern genesis of oil and gas. The concept suggests formation of oil and gas to arise not only from geology but from climatic parameters as well. Key factor in this process is claimed to be mobile carbon transfer by precipitation, leaking into the ground during their regional climatic turnover.
      
      Said carbon (in the form of hydrocarbonate) is reduced to hydrocarbons, which form oil and gas deposits in geological traps.
      
      Theoretic estimations show that up to 90% of existing oil and carbon could be formed via the mechanism described. The rest forms in the earth’s crust from organic residues.
      
      Climatic factor strongly depends on anthropogenic activities. Countries with actively extracted oil and gas deposits find themselves at risk of exhausting of said resources due to affecting their accumulation.
      
      However, this new concept suggests oil and gas deposits to be inexhaustible.
      
      Source: Science & Life