Oil formation

This animated video demonstrates the formation of hydrocarbons over millions of years in the depths of the Earth.

Oil and gas forms in sedimentary ocean basins. Dead plankton (organic plant and animal material) gets deposited together with mud, sand and other sediments. In this early stage the plankton/sediment layer is called sapropel. Through an increase in temperature the sapropel is converted into kerogen. Folding or faulting forms oil traps where oil and gas can accumulate in the pore space of a source rock below the trap otherwise it will escape to the earth's surface as seepage. The liquid or gas that forms is known as 'hydrocarbons'.

Transcript

Formation of today’s fossil fuel - the beginning - approximately 400 million years ago

Dead plankton sinks to the ocean floor and gets deposited.

Plankton sinks to the ocean floor and is mixed with fine mud (clay). The resulting sediment (plankton, mud, anaerobic bacteria) is now called sapropel.

Sapropel is being buried by younger sediments, which increases the pressure (weight) and temperature of the sapropel layer.

At about 50°C (corresponding to 1-2 km burial) the sapropel is converted into kerogen (through anaerobic bacteria and chemical processes).

The sediment layers may be folded as a result of tectonic movements in the basin.

More sediments fall on top, increasing the pressure and temperature on the kerogen.

At 80-120°C (corresponding to 3-5 km burial) the conversion of kerogen into liquid pertorleum occurs.

The oil migrates out of the kerogen into sandstone reservoir (storage beds).

Between 120-150°C natural gas forms and migrates from the kerogen into the sandstone reservoir.

In some sedimentary basins salty water may also migrate into the sandstone reservoir and underlie the oil.

An oil or gas field forms when the liquid or gas moves through the pores and spaces of permeable rock and collects within the pore spaces under an impermeable trap.