The Origin of Hydrocarbon Resources: Abiotic Theory and Geological Reality

Discussions regarding the formation of energy resources and the sustainability of reserves have recently drifted toward a trajectory that contradicts the fundamental principles of geological science. Arguments built upon the "abiotic oil" theory tend to interpret the global energy crisis and resource scarcity solely as market manipulation. However, this approach disregards the thermodynamic and biochemical laws governing petroleum formation.

Contrary to popular belief, petroleum is not the product of macro-fauna (e.g., dinosaurs), but rather the result of microorganisms and plant matter deposited over millions of years. This organic matter, predominantly consisting of photosynthetic plankton, undergoes a chemical transformation under specific temperature and pressure conditions (the oil window) in anoxic (oxygen-free) environments. This process creates the complex hydrocarbon chains we utilize today.

The abiotic theory argues that petroleum is continuously produced through inorganic processes deep within the Earth, without the need for organic matter. While simple methane compounds can be synthesized under high pressure in laboratory settings, the biological markers (biomarkers) found in crude oil are indisputable evidence of its organic origin. Furthermore, we possess critical information regarding planetary structure: across our solar system, planets exhibit a similar composition where the lightest elements reside on the exterior and the heaviest elements at the core. Petroleum consists of two light elements: carbon and hydrogen. Hydrogen is so light that Earth's gravity is insufficient to retain it in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to find enough carbon and hydrogen deep within the Earth’s interior to produce petroleum.

The frequently mentioned phenomenon of "abandoned wells refilling over years" is not a matter of abiotic regeneration, but a consequence of reservoir management and fluid mechanics. Petroleum and natural gas move within porous rock structures based on pressure differentials. When oil is extracted from a specific point, the pressure decreases, causing surrounding oil to slowly seep toward that region. When production ceases, the gradual migration of oil trapped in surrounding low-permeability areas toward the wellbore is a physical stabilization, not geological production. This does not alter the fact that the resource is finite; it merely relates to the extraction efficiency of the existing reserve.

The limitation of energy resources is not solely about the quantity underground. The primary constraint is the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide due to the intensive use of these resources and the resulting extreme weather events imposed upon the ecosystem. Theories suggesting that resources are "infinite" overshadow the strategic necessity for energy transition and efficiency. In fact, it is fortunate that these resources are not infinite; otherwise, humanity might have burned them all, rendering the planet uninhabitable.

A strategic perspective requires acknowledging the massive discrepancy between the geological timescale of the hydrocarbon cycle and the rate of human consumption, rather than succumbing to the illusion of infinite resources. In essence, sunlight was converted into petroleum through millions of years of plankton photosynthesis and subsequent decay. We are consuming this million-year accumulation within a few centuries. A realistic energy policy must be built not on technological assumptions, but on the constraints of thermodynamics and the physical capacity of the planet.