Oil Formation Video
1) The process that forms oil requires a lot of time. How long ago did the oil we extract today start forming?
- 200 million years ago
2) What was the earth like at this time?
- The continents all shifted together
3) We call it oil now, but what was that slimy black stuff before it became oil?
- Microorganisms, Phytoplankton
4) The video lists several processes or conditions required to change your answer to question 3 into oil.
- They have to die and sink to the sea floor
- They mix with other sediments
- Since there is no oxygen there is no decomposition
- For an airtight layer, other rock layer creates pressure and heat between 60 or 80- 120 degrees celcius
5) Besides oil, what other fossil fuel can be formed by this process with only one minor variation?
If it was 150 degrees celsius it would turn into natural gas.
Bonus: But wait, we call oil a non-renewable resource. If we can just make more oil by this process, why do we call it "non-renewable"?
- 200 million years ago
2) What was the earth like at this time?
- The continents all shifted together
3) We call it oil now, but what was that slimy black stuff before it became oil?
- Microorganisms, Phytoplankton
4) The video lists several processes or conditions required to change your answer to question 3 into oil.
- They have to die and sink to the sea floor
- They mix with other sediments
- Since there is no oxygen there is no decomposition
- For an airtight layer, other rock layer creates pressure and heat between 60 or 80- 120 degrees celcius
5) Besides oil, what other fossil fuel can be formed by this process with only one minor variation?
If it was 150 degrees celsius it would turn into natural gas.
Bonus: But wait, we call oil a non-renewable resource. If we can just make more oil by this process, why do we call it "non-renewable"?