A question about fossil fuels?

Question

is methane/natural gas a fossil fuel? resulting from the decay of plant and animal life? if so, how does science explain the over abundance of methane gas and liquid on other planets with no life what so ever? Or is methane actually not a fossil fuel but rather a naturally manufactured by product of planets? How does one explain the depth that these fuels including crude oil are found at? Sometimes miles under the crust of the earth. Doesnt this mean there is a direct conflict to say methane/natural gas exists on planets devoid of life yet is a non renwable resource here on Earth?

Answer 1

Indeed it is.

However there are theories that Methane (and other hydrocarbons) can be produced without a life form being the origin: Abiogenic.

Granted the hypothesis has it's problems, but until we actually detect nonterrestrial lifeforms and their ability to produce methane, it would be premature to say that only life produces it.

Answer 2

The major source of methane is extraction from geological deposits known as natural gas fields. It is associated with other hydrocarbon fuels and sometimes accompanied by helium and nitrogen. The gas at shallow levels (low pressure) is formed by anaerobic decay of organic matter and reworked methane from deep under the Earth's surface. In general, sediments buried deeper and at higher temperatures than those which give oil generate natural gas. Methane is also produced in considerable quantities from the decaying organic wastes of solid waste landfills.

Apart from gas fields an alternative method of obtaining methane is via biogas generated by the fermentation of organic matter including manure, wastewater sludge, municipal solid waste (including landfills), or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. Methane hydrates/clathrates (icelike combinations of methane and water on the sea floor, found in vast quantities) are a potential future source of methane. Cattle belch methane, accounting for 16% of the world's annual methane emissions to the atmosphere.  The livestock sector in general (primarily cattle, chickens, and pigs) produces 37% of all human-induced methane". However animals "that put their energies into making gas are less efficient at producing milk and meat". Early research has found a number of medical treatments and dietary adjustments that help limit the production of methane in ruminants.

Industrially, methane can be created from common atmospheric gases and hydrogen (produced, perhaps, by electrolysis) through chemical reactions such as the Sabatier process, Fischer-Tropsch process. Coal bed methane extraction is a method for extracting methane from a coal deposit.

A recent scientific experiment has also yielded results pointing to one species of plant producing trace methane.

Methane has been detected or is believed to exist in several locations of the solar system. It is believed to have been created by abiotic processes, with the possible exception of Mars.

Abiotic is inorganic matter

Answer 3

Just remember petrochemicals do not come from decaying organic matter.  That has been proven, as the used up oil fields start filling up again.  They come from rock and high pressure.

So, if you have heat and high pressure on other planets you will have hydrocarbons, it seems to me.

Answer 4

I think you might be onto something.  Either a lie, or just faulty assumptions so well accepted as to become doctrine without anyone examining the contradiction.

Seems unlikely though.