The oil and natural gas that we use today are the remains of microscopic plants and animals that lived in oceans millions of years ago. When these plants and animals died, they sank to the bottom of the oceans where they were buried by sand and silt. As this process continued, the dead plants and animals were buried deeper and deeper. Over time, the pressure and temperature rose, transforming the plants and animals into hydrocarbons-compounds of hydrogen and carbon we call petroleum. This amazing transformation took place all over the world, even in what is now Oklahoma.
Carter County is currently the leading oil producer.
And Rogers Mills County is currently the leading natural gas producer. Over the years, oil and natural gas companies have drilled a lot of wells in their search for petroleum. Layers of mud, sand, rock, plant and animal matter continued to build up until the pressure and heat from the earth turned them into a tar-like substance called kerogen. Natural gas was also formed at that time. Peak generation of natural gas occurs when oil begins to break down because of high temperatures.