One of us is definitely wrong, and it's not me.
Nope. He is regurgitating a common laymen's misconception. Chemists know how hydrocarbons form. It would seem that many geologists never got the memo and blunder through life thinking that hydrocarbons form from previous organic matter.
This is not the case. If you are operating under this embarrassing misconception, I would make it a priority to ditch it for the correct understanding.
1. Hydrocarbons form much deeper in the crust, in massive quantities, from natural geological activity, from regular carbon and hydrogen, with a metal catalyst, whenever the conditions for the Fischer-Tropsch process exist.
2. Hydrocarbons form in a matter of hours, not millions of years. They form under conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures which ELEVATE the level of chemical energy, which is why they make such awesome fuels. Hydrocarbons are the Earth's best renewable source of energy.
3. Hydrocarbons, once produced by the geological activity described above, rise towards the surface until they encounter impermeable rock and cannot proceed further, thus accumulating into a well. This places hydrocarbon wells BELOW impermeable rock where no organic matter ever reached.
4. The above has long-since been verified by petroleum companies who, after tapping wells dry and capping them, simply wait for them to refill. Then off comes the cap and pumping resumes. Note: millions of years are not needed for wells to refill.
5. Where there are gaps in the impermeable rock, such as in the Gulf of Mexico, the hydrocarbons rise to the surface. Petroleum companies know where to build their offshore platforms by observing where the hydrocarbons are emerging from the sea floor.
Nope. No biological matter is involved. There is nothing preventing you from making any hydrocarbons you want in your garage provided you have the right equipment, some hydrogen, some carbon and the right catalyst (metal). No organic anything will be needed.
It would appear that "geochemistry" teaches a long-held religious dogma that has long since been debunked.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=44OU4JxEK4k&t=3s
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=prtmNHkbtYQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-I_UtU7zYs0&t=4s
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=To_RJ_mPNqM&t=57s
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