Question

(a) Explain the process of formation of petroleum.​ [3 marks]
(b) Why is petroleum considered an inexhaustible resource? [2 marks]

Answer 1

(a) The process of formation of petroleum is as follows:

• Petroleum was formed from the organisms living in the sea. [1 mark]
• As the organisms died, their bodies settled at the bottom of the sea and got covered with layers of sand and clay. [1 mark]
• Over millions of years, high temperature, high pressure and the absence of air transformed the dead organisms into petroleum and natural gas.​ [1 mark]

(b) Petroleum is considered an inexhaustible resource because:

• The formation of petroleum is a very slow process and takes over millions of years. [1 mark]
• The rate of formation of petroleum is much less as compared to its utilisation by humans. [1 mark]