This occurs in organisms at night when there is no
light to drive photosynthesis. Also when we burn
hydrocarbons, e.g. while driving a car, energy is
obtained by oxidation, again essentially reversing the
photosynthesis equation quoted above. Oxidation
of 100 g glucose releases 375 kcal of energy.
Carbohydrates that are produced but not consumed
by respiration can be stored as glucose, cellulose or
starch in the cell walls. Photosynthesis is also the
biochemical source for the synthesis of lipids and
proteins. Proteins are large, complex molecules built
up of condensed amino acids (e.g. glycine
H 2 NCH 2 À COOH
ð
Þ ).
Dried phytoplankton contains 45–55% carbon,
4.5–9% nitrogen, 0.6–3.3% phosphorus and up to
25% of both silica and carbonate.
Planktonic algae are the main contributors to the
organic matter which gives rise to petroleum. Among
Sea level
Limestone
Black mud
Organic
mat.
Ox
Red
P, N nutrients
CO 2 + H 2 O
CH 2 O + O 2
Grey mud
Poorly
sorted sand
Deposition of source rocks
Well sorted
sand, potential
reservoir
rock
Photosynthesis
(algae)
Sea level
Sea floor
Sediment
Reservoir
rock
Fault
Oil
migration
3–4 km
Cap rock
Cap rock
120–150°C
b
a
Fig. 1.2 (a) Depositional environments for potential source
and reservoir rocks. Depressions on the sea floor with little
water circulation provide the best setting for organic matter to
be accumulated before it is oxidised. (b) Migration of petroleum
from source rocks into reservoir rocks after burial and
maturation. The carbonate trap (e.g. a reef) is a stratigraphic
trap, while the sandstone forms a structural trap bounded by a
fault. The source rock was deposited as black mud and was
heated to become an organic-rich shale, indicated by black
colour. Well sorted sand became sandstone reservoirs
6
K. Bjørlykke
light to drive photosynthesis. Also when we burn
hydrocarbons, e.g. while driving a car, energy is
obtained by oxidation, again essentially reversing the
photosynthesis equation quoted above. Oxidation
of 100 g glucose releases 375 kcal of energy.
Carbohydrates that are produced but not consumed
by respiration can be stored as glucose, cellulose or
starch in the cell walls. Photosynthesis is also the
biochemical source for the synthesis of lipids and
proteins. Proteins are large, complex molecules built
up of condensed amino acids (e.g. glycine
H 2 NCH 2 À COOH
ð
Þ ).
Dried phytoplankton contains 45–55% carbon,
4.5–9% nitrogen, 0.6–3.3% phosphorus and up to
25% of both silica and carbonate.
Planktonic algae are the main contributors to the
organic matter which gives rise to petroleum. Among
Sea level
Limestone
Black mud
Organic
mat.
Ox
Red
P, N nutrients
CO 2 + H 2 O
CH 2 O + O 2
Grey mud
Poorly
sorted sand
Deposition of source rocks
Well sorted
sand, potential
reservoir
rock
Photosynthesis
(algae)
Sea level
Sea floor
Sediment
Reservoir
rock
Fault
Oil
migration
3–4 km
Cap rock
Cap rock
120–150°C
b
a
Fig. 1.2 (a) Depositional environments for potential source
and reservoir rocks. Depressions on the sea floor with little
water circulation provide the best setting for organic matter to
be accumulated before it is oxidised. (b) Migration of petroleum
from source rocks into reservoir rocks after burial and
maturation. The carbonate trap (e.g. a reef) is a stratigraphic
trap, while the sandstone forms a structural trap bounded by a
fault. The source rock was deposited as black mud and was
heated to become an organic-rich shale, indicated by black
colour. Well sorted sand became sandstone reservoirs
6
K. Bjørlykke