On the relationship of oil and gas formation and degassing processes with groundwater decomposition

• Published in: Georesursy Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 290 - 300
• Main Author: Barenbaum, Azariy A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Georesursy Ltd 01.01.2018
• Subjects: biosphere concept of oil and gas formation; carbon and water cycle; Earth degassing
• ISSN: 1608-5043; 1608-5078
• DOI: 10.18599/grs.2018.4.290-300

The article is referred to important consequence of the biosphere oil and gas formation concept, according to which the process of hydrocarbons generation in the subsoil and degassing of the Earth are a single natural phenomenon. The main role in this phenomenon is played by geochemical circulation of carbon and water through the Earth’s surface accompanied by polycondensation synthesis of hydrocarbons by CO2+H2O reaction. This reaction is accompanied by a colossal decomposition of groundwater into hydrogen and oxygen within the sedimentary cover of the earth’s crust. Unreacted CO2, as well as H2 and most of the methane produced during the reaction are degassed into the atmosphere, while resulting C5+ hydrocarbons remain under the surface filling geological traps in the form of oil and gas. The article presents the results of model experiments, which make it possible to estimate the rate of groundwater decomposition and on this basis explain the current rate of Earth’s degassing, as well as the observed CO2, CH4 and H2 ratio in degassing products.