Question

Describe how petroleum was formed in the earth.

Answer 1

Petroleum evolved, millions of years ago, through the decomposition of the microscopic remains of the plants and animals buried deep under the sea. When the marine plants and animals died, millions of years back, their bodies sank to the bottom of the sea, thereby getting buried into the sand and mud. The high pressure, heat and bacteria caused the chemical reactions in the absence of air and converted the microscopic remains into petroleum. This is the reason why petroleum is found trapped between two layers of non-porous rocks.