The Shocking Truth: Oil and Gas May Not Be Fossil Fuels But a Renewable Geothermal Resource

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For over a century, the scientific community and public have accepted that oil and natural gas are “fossil fuels” – the decomposed remains of ancient plants and animals transformed over millions of years. This biogenic theory has formed the foundation of our understanding of petroleum geology, energy economics, and environmental policy.

But what if this fundamental assumption is wrong?

A growing body of evidence suggests that oil and gas may not be fossil-based at all, but rather naturally occurring, renewable resources continuously generated by geothermal processes deep within Earth’s mantle.

1: The Flaws in Fossil Fuel Theory

The Problem With “Fossil” Fuels

The conventional explanation claims that:

  • Ancient marine organisms (plankton/algae) accumulated in sediments
  • Over countless ages, the leftovers of long-extinct plants and animals sank beneath layers of earth. Trapped under intense heat and crushing pressure, these once-living things gradually morphed into the oil and gas that now power our modern world.
  • These became concentrated in porous rock formations
  • But critical inconsistencies exist:
    • Volume Issue: Known fossil deposits can’t account for all oil reserves
    • Location Anomalies: Oil found in basement rock with no sedimentary history
    • Chemical Puzzles: Certain biomarkers may have non-organic origins

The Russian-Ukrainian Scientific Rebellion

While Western science embraced biogenic theory, Soviet researchers developed an alternative model:

  • Nikolai Kudryavtsev (1950s) proposed deep-Earth oil formation
  • Empirical evidence from Siberian fields contradicted fossil theory
  • Successful predictions led to major discoveries in non-sedimentary basins

2: The Abiogenic Petroleum Theory Explained

The Core Hypothesis

The abiogenic model posits that:

  1. Mantle-derived hydrocarbons form through Fisher-Tropsch type reactions
  2. Supercritical water (H₂O) reacts with metal carbides (Fe, Ni)
  3. Resulting methane polymerizes into complex hydrocarbons
  4. These migrate upward through deep faults and fractures

Laboratory Verification

Groundbreaking experiments confirm:

  • Carnegie Institution (2004): Synthesized methane from water, calcite and iron oxide at mantle conditions
  • NASA Studies: Demonstrated hydrocarbon formation in simulated interstellar conditions
  • Russian Research: Documented oil regeneration in depleted fields

Geological Evidence

  • Ultra-deep oil: Discoveries below 30,000 feet defy fossil theory
  • Mid-ocean ridge seeps: Hydrocarbons emerging from tectonic spreading zones
  • Diamond inclusions: Found containing methane and heavier hydrocarbons

3: Documented Cases of Regenerating Oil Fields

The Eugene Island Mystery (Gulf of Mexico)

  • Field produced 60% more oil than estimated reserves
  • Chemical analysis showed different composition from original oil
  • Suggested deep recharge from mantle sources

Siberian Supergiants

  • Russian fields showing unexpected longevity
  • Production curves matching recharge models rather than depletion
  • Lukoil’s proprietary research supports abiogenic concepts

Global Anomalies

LocationPhenomenonImplications
Bakken FormationPressure maintenance despite decades of extractionPossible deep recharge
Ghawar FieldSustained high pressureChallenges depletion models
Australian Basins“Dead” wells producing again after decadesSuggests active generation

4: Implications for Energy and Environment

The End of “Peak Oil”?

If oil is continuously generated:

  • Current depletion models may be fundamentally flawed
  • Resource estimates need complete revision
  • Energy security paradigms require reassessment

Environmental Considerations

  • Carbon cycle implications: Is petroleum part of Earth’s natural GHG regulation?
  • Extraction ethics: Does “renewable” oil justify continued use?
  • Climate models: How does this affect anthropogenic warming calculations?

Future Energy Strategies

Potential developments:

  • Ultra-deep drilling technologies (10-15km depth)
  • Mantle energy mapping to locate generation zones
  • Hybrid models combining biogenic and abiogenic theories

5: Why Mainstream Science Resists

Institutional Inertia

  • Educational systems entrenched in biogenic theory
  • Petroleum industry structured around depletion economics
  • Research funding biases toward established paradigms

Technical Challenges

  • Difficulty sampling ultra-deep reservoirs
  • Distinguishing abiogenic vs. biogenic signatures
  • Modeling mantle-crust hydrocarbon migration

The Way Forward

Needed research directions:

  1. Global deep-drilling initiatives
  2. Advanced isotopic tracing techniques
  3. International collaboration between Western and Russian/Chinese researchers

6: The Chemistry of Abiogenic Hydrocarbon Formation

The Fischer-Tropsch Process in Nature

The abiogenic theory finds strong support in known chemical processes:

  • Industrial parallels: The Fischer-Tropsch process takes carbon monoxide and hydrogen and converts them into liquid fuels, like synthetic gasoline or diesel.
  • Natural equivalent: Similar reactions occur at mantle conditions (500-1500°C, 20-50 kbar)
  • Catalysts: Olivine and chromite in mantle rocks facilitate reactions

Key reaction pathways:

  1. Serpentinization:
    Mg₂SiO₄ + H₂O → Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ + Fe₃O₄ + H₂
    When a mineral called olivine comes into contact with water, it breaks down and forms new minerals—serpentine and magnetite—while also releasing hydrogen gas.
  2. Sabatier reaction:
    CO₂ + 4H₂ → CH₄ + 2H₂O
    (Methane formation from carbon dioxide)

Isotopic Evidence

Critics claim biomarkers prove biological origin, but:

  • Carbon isotopes: δ¹³C values overlap between biogenic and abiogenic methane
  • Helium ratios: The presence of helium-3 to helium-4 ratios in some oil fields suggests that the gases came from deep within the Earth’s mantle.
  • Trace metals: Nickel/vanadium ratios differ from biological expectations

Case Study: Known as the Lost City, this extraordinary hydrothermal field sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, deep beneath the ocean surface.

  • Produces methane and C₂-C₄ hydrocarbons
  • No sedimentary organic matter present
  • δ¹³C values match predicted abiogenic range (-15‰ to -25‰)

7: Historical Precedents and Suppressed Research

The Soviet Oil Miracle

While Western companies drilled sedimentary basins, Soviet geologists:

  • Discovered giant fields in crystalline basement rock
  • Developed predictive models based on deep faults
  • Achieved 85% success rate vs. ~10% for conventional exploration

Notable examples:

  • Dnieper-Donets Basin: Production from fractured granite
  • West Siberian Basin: Reserves exceeding biogenic estimates

Western Resistance Timeline

YearEventSignificance
1951Kudryavtsev publishes abiogenic theoryFirst formal challenge to biogenic dogma
1977Deep Sea Drilling Project finds hydrocarbons in basaltContradicts sedimentary model
2008Carnegie Institution replicates mantle synthesisLab proof of concept
2019China drills 8,000m into Sichuan BasinFinds hydrocarbons in Precambrian rock

8: Technological Implications

Next-Generation Exploration

Future oil finding may require:

  • Gravity anomaly mapping to detect deep faults
  • Seismic tomography of mantle upwellings
  • Quantum gas sensors for mantle-derived hydrocarbons

Extraction Breakthroughs

Emerging technologies for ultra-deep resources:

  1. Plasma drilling: Using superheated gas to penetrate crystalline rock
  2. Supercritical CO₂ fracturing: Replacing water in fracking
  3. Autonomous nanobots: For reservoir mapping at 10km+ depths

Economic impact: Estimated $12 trillion in untapped resources if theory proves correct

9: Environmental and Geopolitical Consequences

Climate Science Reassessment

If hydrocarbons are naturally renewable:

  • The carbon cycle model needs revision
  • Distinguishing anthropogenic vs natural emissions becomes critical
  • Current “keep it in the ground” policies may require reevaluation

The New Energy Map

Potential geopolitical shifts:

  • Traditional oil states may lose monopoly
  • Deep-drilling capable nations (USA, Russia, China) gain advantage
  • OPEC’s influence could dramatically decline

10: The Road Ahead

Critical Research Priorities

  1. International Deep Drilling Program (target: Mohorovičić discontinuity)
  2. Global hydrocarbon flux quantification
  3. Advanced molecular fingerprinting techniques

The Knowledge War

Opposing forces:

  • Pro-abiogenic: Independent researchers, Russian/Chinese institutes
  • Pro-biogenic: Western oil majors, academic geology departments
  • Neutral: NASA, USGS (quietly funding some abiogenic research)