How long does it take for fossil fuel to form?

Question

i know how but how long...

Answer 1

A team at the U of Ohio made coal in about 6 months, with only moderate pressure and heat.  That was maybe 10 years ago, IIRC.

Crude oil is currently being formed in the Gulf of California by hot water (geothermal vent) bubbling up through a mat of decayed vegetation.  It just bubbles up to the surface and dissipates.  It's good quality, sweet light crude.  Takes almost NO time.  HOURS, at MOST.

There is a new technology which takes ordinary garbage (household garbage, dead animals, yard wastes such as grass clippings, etc.) and makes good quality crude in a matter of hours, using steam and moderate pressure.  It works very well, and should be commercialized soon.

So, if you get the answer "millions of years", time for a reality check.  Repeatable experimental data says coal and crude oil can form very quickly.

Answer 2

yes skeptical but this is not energetically favorable