LAUSR

The importance of oil as the most important mineral necessary for the progress of the world economy sharply raises the question of the exhaustion or inexhaustibility of its resources. The answer to this question is closely related to ideas about the origin of oil and hydrocarbons in general. In this article, the question of the origin of hydrocarbons is considered in the light of the proposed hypothesis of the origin and evolution of the Earth as an open system genetically related to the origin of the Universe. According to this hypothesis, the processes of gravitational collapse and the opposite process expansion, including that by an explosion, coexist in unlimited space, prevailing in one or another of its areas. The original substance (core) of the Earth is a fragment of the “dark matter” of an exploding neutron star. The planet Earth has an age corresponding to that of the Big Bang (about 15 billion years). The evolution of the Earth has two stages: pregeological and geological. The beginning of the geological stage of the Earth evolution is determined by the age of the most ancient artifacts in Earth’s crust. The core of the Earth emits excess neutrons, some of which decay immediately after separation from the nucleus to form a proton–electron pair or a hydrogen atom. A mixture of neutrons, protons, electrons, and nascent chemical elements is the “broth” in which chemical elements and their isotopes, as well as the simplest gases and complex compounds, are formed as a result of chaotic collisions. Neutron–proton–hydrogen (NPH) transformation, first formulated by I.M. Belozerov is the main process determining the development of the Earth. The formation of chemical elements and their isotopes occurs initially though the combination of two hydrogen nuclei into an α-particle, which is the helium nucleus and an integral part of the nuclei of chemical elements, primarily having a multiple of four. Due to the special features of their structure, hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon are of particular importance for the formation of complex compounds. In the process of synthesis of the simplest gases and complex elements, water, methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrous oxide are formed. The Belozerov–Sharov– Minin hypothesis proposed and this paper are not intended to intensify the discussion between advocates of the organic and inorganic hypotheses of oil origin. The paper calls for enhancing research, both theoretical and practical, aimed at increasing the source base of oil and other hydrocarbons by discovering new fields at various depths, both on land and in water areas. Oil is inexhaustible as long as neutron fluxes are emitted by the Earth core. The physical basis of the hypothesis under consideration is set out in the monograph by I.M. Belozerov “Nature through the Physicist Eyes” and in joint publications of the authors of the hypothesis, including data reported by other researchers. The geological rationale and the geological implications of the hypothesis are based on the results of research of the authors of this paper using information published by other researchers. References to the studies discussed in the above publications are not duplicated. On the basis of the hypothesis in question, particular recommendations on the formulation of forecasting and prospecting works can be given.