Oil and Natural Gas Formation Process
Categories: Carbon Cycle#Environment Kit
Oil is one of the world's main sources of energy. Its formation occurs by the degradation and transformation of animal fossils and prehistoric plants in aquatic environments, under compaction and temperature increase, and by the action of bacteria in environments with little oxygenation. As this process is slow, taking millions of years, it is considered a non-renewable resource. The oil is formed in the source rocks, migrates toward the surface until it finds a cap rock, and is stored in reservoir rocks. Depending on the composition of the original organic material and the temperature of the process, oil, gas, or a mixture of the two can be formed.
