Sediment samples dredged up from the bottom of the Gulf of California near some hydrothermal vents contain petroleum similar in some ways to commercial petroleum. Apparently organic matter in the vicinity of the vent is thermally converted into oil, or at least something that, like wine, matures into something useful. The recently discovered hydrothermal vents are only the external manifestations of what must be extensive chemical factories beneath the crust.
Carbon dating of petroleum sometimes yields absurdly young ages.
The Gaia hypothesis would lead us to expect just such a process. William R. Corliss Other Sites of Interest SIS . Catastrophism, archaeoastronomy, ancient history, mythology and astronomy. Free resource for people thinking about working at home. ABC Dating and Personals .