Abiogenic formation of alkanes in the Earth's crust as a minor source for global hydrocarbon reservoirs

Natural hydrocarbons are largely formed by the thermal decomposition of organic matter (thermogenesis) or by microbial processes (bacteriogenesis). But the discovery of methane at an East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent1 and in other crustal fluids supports the occurrence of an abiogenic source of hydrocarbons2,3,4. These abiogenic hydrocarbons are generally formed by the reduction of carbon dioxide, a process which is thought to occur during …