How long, in general, does it take crude oil to be broken down by natural chemical reactions?

[complain jane]

I'm trying very hard to remain civil in a conversation with a conservative who says this oil spill is the fault of pro-environmentalists who did not want drilling in "safer areas" such as ANWR.

And he also says the oil spill is just going to be broken down by natural chemical reactions anyway so it's no big deal. :mad:

Obviously he's an ass but I'd like to come back to the "natural chemical reactions" argument with some solid info, since I asked him how long that process would take and he refuses to answer.

[uppityperson]

1. I think the type of oil is different, what it is used for. Don't have an answer for you though

[izquierdista]

2. Weeks to years

There are many, many factors. Under optimal conditions of temperature and humidity, microbes can break down oil in a matter of days to weeks. In the ANWR, where it is frozen over half the year, oil could take decades to break down, if not longer. Once it got trapped under snow and ice, it might be there for geological time.

[WeDidIt]

3. The problem is, most of what crude oil breaks down into naturally

is worse than the crude oil.

The primary chemical components of crude oil are alkanes, and cycloalkanes as well as some aromatic hydrocarbons and asphaltenes. The alkanes and cycloalkanes are the primary chemical constituents that will break down, but usually the larger chains into smaller chains.

From smallest to largest chains, here are some of the most common alkanes:

Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
Pentane
Hexane
Heptane
Octane
Nonane
Decane
Undecane
Dodecane
Triacontane

Methane, Ethane, Propane, and Butane are gaseous. Pentane, Hexane, Heptane, and Octane go into gasoline.

The rest usually go into Diesel.

So no matter what, this shit stays around in the environment.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. excellent reply

[csziggy]

4. He's the one making the claim - make him give you the references to prove it

If he can't or won't then there is no point in staying civil with him. He si pulling crap out his ass, throwing it against the wall and expecting you to believe it is factual.

[Johonny]

6. If that were true why is it still there in the ground to get?

On the surface are we suddenly worried the tar in your asphalt is going to quickly breakdown too? No.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. If he is talking GEOLOGIC time

somehow I doubt it though.

[Arctic Dave]

8. The Exxon Valdez oil is still present to this day in Prince William Sound.

If you dig down six inches you will still find oil.

This person is pulling talking points out their hiney.

[complain jane]

9. Thanks for the replies.

Guy's a jackass.

[lunatica]

10. Well, considering the oil has been there for at least 68 millions years

I guess your friend doesn't have much to stand on. Remind him that the oil has been there since the age of dinosaurs which is about 68 million years ago. But then concede that it may actually break down any day now, while you roll on the floor laughing.