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The Origins of Oil and Gas: Chapter One
The Origins of Oil and Gas: Chapter One
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CHAPTER ONE:
The Origins of
Oil and Gas
Sandstone
Close-up of textured pattern on a sandstone
Organic Origins
The story of oil and gas begins hundreds of millions of years ago when the Earth was
covered in swamplands filled with huge trees and the seas were teaming with microscopic
plants and animals. The oil and gas deposits started forming about 350 to 290 million
years ago during the Carboniferous Period, which gets its name from the basic element
in oil and gas: carbon. A popular belief is that oil comes from dead dinosaurs. It doesnt.
The giant reptiles lived mostly from 250 to 65 million years ago, and most scientists
believe oil actually comes from the tiniest plants and animals that preceded them.
* The terms petroleum, hydrocarbons and oil and gas are often used interchangeably throughout this text. For definitions and distinctions, refer to the glossary at the end of this chapter.
Types of Traps
The Earths tremendous forces can change the original
form of the reservoir rocks, moving them up, down
or sideways, and folding the layers into arches or
troughs. These shifts can determine the type of trap in
Glossary
Sources
Encyclopedia Britannica
Photo credits for Geological History of Alaskas Oil and Gas timeline: Space, courtesy of NASA; Rock formation, courtesy of seakayakphoto.com; Zebra mussels, by Amy Benson/ U.S. Geological
Survey; Sea Lamprey, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency; Stoneflies, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency; Spider, by James Solomon, USDA Forest Service; Japanese
honeysuckle, by John J. Mosesso, National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII); Amphibian, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Crocodile, by Thomas A. Hermann, (NBII); Lizard, by Randolph Femmer,
(NBII); Forest, by Randolph Femmer, (NBII); Bird, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Flock of birds, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Fox, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Flowers, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Fossilized
tracks, by Thomas A. Hermann, (NBII); Monkey, by John J. Mosesso, (NBII); Lion, by Thomas A. Hermann, (NBII); Glacier, by Russels Gletscher, Free Software Foundation, Inc.; Pangeo map, by Kieff,
Free Software Foundation, Inc.; Globes, by Antonio Snider-Pellegrini; Earth, courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense; Dead tree, by Magnus Manske; Allosaurus, by Grzegorz Wysocki; Skate, courtesy
of U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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