Putin Ally Drills 8-Km Russian Well to Prove Infinite Oil

Sabine Hossenfelder

Decades of commercial exploration show deep abiogenic reserves are nonviable, making Moscow's bet on self-replenishing petroleum an expensive exercise in wishful thinking.

AI-assisted summary of Russia Is Drilling 8 km Down to Prove Oil Never Runs Out — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2026-08-01

Key ideas

Russia has initiated an engineering project to drill an 8-kilometer deep borehole in the Komi region to test whether petroleum fields naturally replenish from deep within the Earth. (0:00)
The project is driven by Vladimir Litvinenko, a billionaire university head and Vladimir Putin's former dissertation supervisor, who champions the abiogenic origin of oil over the biogenic scientific consensus. (1:45)
While inorganic synthesis of hydrocarbons like methane occurs naturally under extreme subterranean pressure, major oil companies have found no evidence of commercially viable abiogenic reservoirs. (1:45)
Litvinenko pairs his geological claims with geopolitical conspiracy theories, asserting that Western institutions suppressed abiogenic research to justify population reduction and undermine the Russian economy. (4:05)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by Sabine Hossenfelder on August 1, 2026, the video investigates whether Vladimir Putin's former thesis advisor is correct in claiming that petroleum fields naturally replenish themselves indefinitely. The page description questions whether Russia's massive project to drill eight kilometers into the ground will uncover infinite oil or simply result in a very expensive hole.

## TL;DR Russian billionaire and academic Vladimir Litvinenko, who supervised Vladimir Putin's economics dissertation, is driving an initiative to drill an eight-kilometer-deep borehole in the Komi region to prove the abiogenic hypothesis of oil formation. Litvinenko rejects the standard consensus that oil derives from decayed ancient biomass, arguing instead that deep mantle hydrocarbons continuously migrate upward and replenish tapped reservoirs—a position he couples with accusations of Western conspiratorial bias. While inorganic hydrocarbon synthesis is chemically possible under extreme pressure, decades of commercial exploration have failed to produce viable abiogenic reservoirs, leading Sabine Hossenfelder to dismiss the endeavor as expensive wishful thinking that will likely only bury the theory for good.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries Sabine Hossenfelder's trademark blend of dry, biting humor, pragmatic skepticism, and lucid scientific deconstruction. Rather than sensationalizing the premise of infinite oil, the narrative treats the project with sharp, amused incredulity, contrasting rigorous geological realities against politically motivated scientific grievance. Watching it feels like a brisk, no-nonsense reality check, moving briskly from geopolitical context to geochemistry before culminating in deadpan punchlines.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=0s) Russia has initiated an engineering project to drill an 8-kilometer deep borehole in the Komi region to test whether petroleum fields naturally replenish from deep within the Earth. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) The project is driven by Vladimir Litvinenko, a billionaire university head and Vladimir Putin's former dissertation supervisor, who champions the abiogenic origin of oil over the biogenic scientific consensus. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) While inorganic synthesis of hydrocarbons like methane occurs naturally under extreme subterranean pressure, major oil companies have found no evidence of commercially viable abiogenic reservoirs. - [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) Litvinenko pairs his geological claims with geopolitical conspiracy theories, asserting that Western institutions suppressed abiogenic research to justify population reduction and undermine the Russian economy.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=0s) Russia is drilling an 8-kilometer deep borehole to test claims that oil fields naturally refill themselves over short timescales. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) The effort is led by Vladimir Litvinenko, rector of St. Petersburg Mining University, a billionaire with close Kremlin ties who supervised Putin's 1990s dissertation. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) Litvinenko rejects the standard biogenic consensus that oil forms from ancient biological matter heated and compressed over millions of years. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) The abiogenic petroleum hypothesis proposes that hydrocarbons synthesize from inorganic material deep in the mantle and crust, migrating upward through rock fractures. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) The abiogenic framework appeals to climate change deniers because an infinite supply of replenishing underground oil challenges the need for a green energy transition. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) Inorganic hydrocarbon formation is physically possible—such as abiotic methane bubbling from ocean floors—but the crucial unresolved question is whether it exists in meaningful quantities. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) Litvinenko asserts that legacy oil reservoirs still producing after decades are direct proof that underground replenishment is actively occurring. - [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) Litvinenko accuses mainstream science of suppressing abiogenic theory, comparing geological consensus to the Soviet persecution of geneticists and alleging Western plots by the Club of Rome. - [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) The 8-kilometer test well is located in Russia's Komi region, west of the Ural Mountains, where hydrocarbons are rarely found at such depths. - [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) Proving the hypothesis requires finding deep hydrocarbons, confirming the total absence of biological biomarkers, and demonstrating reservoir replenishment on human timescales. - [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) Decades of exploration by commercial oil firms have failed to identify viable abiogenic reservoirs, indicating the Russian project is largely driven by wishful thinking.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=0s) The Billion-Dollar Bet on Infinite Oil

Vladimir Putin's former dissertation supervisor, who also shares the first name Vladimir, is completely convinced that oil fields have the ability to refill themselves naturally. To prove this radical claim, Russia has initiated a massive engineering project to drill a borehole 8 kilometers deep into the Earth's crust. The stakes for this venture could not be higher: if he turns out to be right, Russia gains a massive strategic advantage and has a clear path to becoming the dominant global superpower it strives to be. If he is mistaken, however, the country will simply end up owning an exceptionally expensive hole in the ground.

Following this setup, Sabine Hossenfelder shares a personal message regarding mental health, noting that emotional and psychological struggles frequently present in subtle or non-obvious ways—ranging from unhealthy eating patterns and severe procrastination to anger issues that impact loved ones. She introduces the sponsor, BetterHelp, an online therapy platform that matches users with credentialed therapists based on their individual needs via phone, video, or chat. Addressing past criticisms of the service, she notes that the platform addressed these concerns and currently maintains a 4.8 out of 5 rating in the App Store, offering viewers a 10% discount on their first month through her link while underscoring that mental healthcare should never be delayed.

[01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=105s) Vladimir Litvinenko and the Abiogenic Hypothesis

The central figure driving the deep-drilling initiative is Vladimir Litvinenko, the powerful director of St. Petersburg Mining University. Litvinenko has deep ties to the Kremlin: he supervised Vladimir Putin’s economics dissertation during the 1990s and subsequently ran Putin’s presidential campaigns in St. Petersburg. Beyond academia, Litvinenko is a billionaire who holds extensive connections throughout Russia’s mineral and extraction industries. For decades, he has rejected the standard geological consensus that oil and natural gas originate exclusively from ancient biological matter—such as decaying marine organisms buried under sediment, heated, and compressed over millions of years.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Biogenic versus Abiogenic Oil Formation accDescr: Diagram contrasting conventional fossil fuel formation with the abiogenic hypothesis promoted by Litvinenko.

subgraph Biogenic["Standard Biogenic Theory"] B1["Ancient Biological Matter"] --> B2["Burial in Sediment"] B2 --> B3["Heat & Pressure over Millions of Years"] B3 --> B4["Finite Fossil Fuel Reserves"] end

subgraph Abiogenic["Litvinenko's Abiogenic Theory"] A1["Deep Inorganic Material"] --> A2["Extreme Mantle Pressures"] A2 --> A3["Hydrocarbons Rise via Crustal Cracks"] A3 --> A4["Replenishing / Infinite Oil Fields"] end ```

Instead, Litvinenko champions the abiogenic petroleum hypothesis. This framework posits that hydrocarbons are synthesized from inorganic matter situated much deeper within the mantle and crust under intense pressure, which then migrate upward toward the surface through fractures and faults. The defining feature of this hypothesis is that abiogenic oil could theoretically replenish itself on human or semi-human timescales, directly contradicting the notion of finite fossil fuels. Sabine points out that this hypothesis has long enjoyed popularity among climate change deniers, as the prospect of endless underground oil allows them to dispute the urgency of transitioning toward renewable energy.

- While standard crude oil unquestionably contains identifiable organic residues and biomarkers linked to ancient organisms, purely abiogenic production of hydrocarbons is physically possible. - Methane and certain hydrocarbon chains are known to form under intense subterranean pressures without biology, as demonstrated by inorganic methane bubbling beneath specific ocean floors. - “The relevant question is how much and where.” - At a 2023 industry conference, Litvinenko insisted that numerous legacy reservoirs that should have dried up decades ago remain operational, claiming production continues “precisely because the reserves are being replenished.”

[04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) Conspiracies, Politics, and the 8-Kilometer Borehole

Litvinenko’s advocacy for abiogenic oil is heavily wrapped in conspiratorial and geopolitical grievances. In a published opinion piece, he alleged that mainstream geology had systematically silenced alternative theories to serve Western political objectives. Sabine quotes him directly:

> “By the end of the 20th century, the theory of the abiogenic origin of hydrocarbons was unreasonably marginalized. The situation was reminiscent of the persecution of geneticists in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1960s. Reasoned scientific debate gave way to dogmatism. It's possible that the Club of Rome itself needed an apocalyptic forecast for energy resources to justify its policy of global population reduction.”

Litvinenko has also targeted the environmental movement in interviews, attacking what he terms “pseudo-ecologists” dedicated to green energy alongside “hysterical voices” warning that global petroleum reserves will be depleted within 20 to 30 years. He insists these warnings are weaponized narratives designed to paint Russia as standing on the precipice of economic collapse, while simultaneously using them to explain industrial declines in Germany. In short, his effort to unearth infinite oil is explicitly tied to securing Russia’s position as a global leader.

```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Validation Requirements for Abiogenic Oil accDescr: Steps required to verify whether deep-well petroleum is genuine abiogenic replenishing oil.

D["Drill 8 km Well in Komi"] --> Ext["Extract Deep Hydrocarbons"] Ext --> Lab["Test for Absence of Biomarkers"] Lab --> Rep["Monitor Reservoir for Rapid Replenishment"] ```

Now, Litvinenko is putting his concepts to an empirical test. St. Petersburg Mining University is executing an 8-kilometer deep well in Komi, an oil-producing region situated west of the Ural Mountains. Standard fossil reserves are rarely found at such depths—though exceptional ultradeep reservoirs do exist, such as in China. If hydrocarbons are encountered 8 kilometers down, researchers will need to analyze them for organic traces and establish whether the reservoir refills in a timeframe shorter than several billion years.

Sabine observes that major commercial oil companies have spent decades hunting for giant abiogenic reservoirs without finding any viable sites, calling the premise “a bad case of wishful thinking.” She quips that she would far prefer Russia spend its resources drilling holes in the earth rather than threatening to assimilate its neighbors, concluding with a final jab: once the negative results are finalized, Russia can use its brand-new 8-kilometer hole to bury the abiogenic theory once and for all.

## Notable quotes > [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) By the end of the 20th century, the theory of the abiogenic origin of hydrocarbons was unreasonably marginalized. The situation was reminiscent of the persecution of geneticists in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1960s. — Vladimir Litvinenko

> [04:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y&t=245s) It's possible that the Club of Rome itself needed an apocalyptic forecast for energy resources to justify its policy of global population reduction. — Vladimir Litvinenko

## Mentioned Sabine Hossenfelder, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Litvinenko, BetterHelp, St. Petersburg Mining University, Club of Rome, Komi, Ural Mountains, Soviet Union, Germany, China

## Video description Head to https://betterhelp.com/sabinehossenfelder to get 10% off your first month with our paid partner, BetterHelp. Therapy can be a meaningful space to reflect, grow, and create positive change in your life.

Putin's former thesis advisor is convinced that oil never runs out, and Russia is now drilling 8 kilometres into the ground to prove him right. Is there really infinite oil down there, or is Russia about to end up with a very expensive hole? Let's take a look.

#science #physics #russia #oil #sciencenews #energy

Previous video about the abiogenic oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNsGzDmSjD0

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[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUKzeb-c8Y)

中文简报

普京盟友在俄钻探8公里深井以证明“无限石油”理论数十年的商业勘探表明深层非生物成油不具备可行性，莫斯科押注石油可自我补充是一场代价高昂的一厢情愿。曾指导弗拉基米尔·普京经济学学位论文的俄罗斯亿万富翁兼学者弗拉基米尔·利特维年科（Vladimir Litvinenko），正在科米地区推进一项钻探8公里深井的计划，以求证明石油形成的非生物假说。利特维年科否认石油来自古生物遗骸的学界主流共识，主张深部地幔碳氢化合物会不断向上迁移并补充已开采的油藏，他还将这一观点与针对西方的阴谋论指控挂钩。尽管在极端高压下无机碳氢化合物合成在化学上是可能的，但数十年的商业勘探从未发现具有开采价值的非生物油气藏；Sabine Hossenfelder认为这一尝试纯属代价高昂的一厢情愿，可能最终只会彻底埋葬该理论。俄罗斯已启动一项工程项目，在科米地区钻探一口8公里深的深井，以检验石油矿藏是否能从地球深处自然得到补充。 (0:00) 该项目由亿万富翁兼大学校长、普京曾经的论文导师弗拉基米尔·利特维年科推动，他极力支持石油非生物成因说，反对生物成因的科学共识。 (1:45) 虽然在地下极高压环境中甲烷等碳氢化合物的无机合成能够自然发生，但各大石油公司并未发现具有商业价值的非生物油气藏证据。 (1:45) 利特维年科将他的地质学主张与地缘政治阴谋论结合起来，声称西方机构压制非生物研究是为了为减少人口寻找借口并破坏俄罗斯经济。 (4:05)

Reading summary

Russian researchers have begun drilling an eight-kilometer-deep borehole in the Komi region to test whether petroleum naturally forms from inorganic processes and replenishes depleted reservoirs. Championed by Vladimir Putin's former dissertation supervisor, Vladimir Litvinenko, the project challenges the conventional geological consensus that fossil fuels are finite biological deposits. The Abiogenic Hypothesis Versus Geological Consensus (1:45) Standard geology dictates that oil and natural gas originate from decaying organic matter, such as ancient marine organisms, subjected to millions of years of heat and sedimentary pressure. In contrast, Vladimir Litvinenko, director of St. Petersburg Mining University, champions the abiogenic petroleum hypothesis. This theory posits that hydrocarbons form inorganically under extreme pressure in the Earth's mantle and crust, subsequently ascending through fissures to refill upper reservoirs on human or semi-human timescales. The concept has historically appealed to climate change deniers, as self-replenishing oil would undermine arguments for transitioning away from fossil fuels. While standard crude oil consistently contains identifiable biological biomarkers, the physical formation of inorganic hydrocarbons is recognized in nature, such as inorganic methane emissions beneath ocean floors. According to Sabine Hossenfelder, the critical issue is not whether inorganic synthesis can occur, but whether it produces commercially significant accumulations. Litvinenko asserted at a 2023 conference that older reservoirs continue producing solely because their reserves are actively refilling from beneath. Geopolitics and Accusations of Scientific Dogmatism (4:05) Litvinenko—a billionaire extraction-industry figure who supervised Putin’s 1990s economics dissertation and ran his St. Petersburg political campaigns—frames the mainstream rejection of abiogenic theory as a Western geopolitical maneuver. In a published opinion piece, he claimed that the marginalization of abiogenic petroleum at the end of the 20th century resembled the persecution of geneticists in the Soviet Union between the 1930s and 1960s, suggesting that groups like the Club of Rome promoted resource-exhaustion forecasts to justify global population control. Litvinenko has also targeted the green transition, labeling proponents 'pseudo-ecologists' and describing forecasts that oil reserves will expire in 20 to 30 years as hysterical propaganda. He argues these narratives are designed to portray Russia's resource-reliant economy as vulnerable to imminent collapse while contributing to industrial declines in nations like Germany. For Litvinenko, confirming abiogenic oil is directly linked to securing Russia's standing as a dominant global power. Empirical Testing in the Komi Borehole (4:05) St. Petersburg Mining University is testing the abiogenic hypothesis by drilling an eight-kilometer-deep borehole in the Komi region, west of the Ural Mountains. While ultradeep hydrocarbon reservoirs exist in select areas such as China, conventional petroleum deposits are rarely found at such depths. To scientifically validate Litvinenko's claims, any hydrocarbons recovered from the well must undergo testing to verify the absence of organic biomarkers. In addition, researchers would have to demonstrate that the tapped reservoir replenishes itself over a practical human timeframe rather than over billions of years. Hossenfelder views the project as wishful thinking, noting that commercial oil companies have searched for massive abiogenic deposits for decades without success. She argues that if the Komi project fails to provide empirical proof of rapid, inorganic replenishment, Russia will have simply funded an expensive deep-drilling exercise that puts the abiogenic theory to rest.

精炼阅读摘要

俄罗斯正在乌拉尔山脉以西的科米地区推进一项深度达8公里的钻探工程，旨在验证石油能够天然快速自我补充的“非生物成因假说”。该项目由俄罗斯矿业巨头兼普京前学术导师弗拉基米尔·利特维年科主导，他试图以此推翻化石能源有限论并巩固俄罗斯的地缘战略优势，但主流科学界普遍将该设想视作脱离实际的异想天开。挑战主流共识的非生物成因假说 (1:45) 地质学界的主流共识长期认为，石油和天然气是由数亿年前的古代海洋生物遗骸沉入沉积层，在漫长地质年代的高温高压下转化而成的有限化石能源。然而，圣彼得堡矿业大学校长弗拉基米尔·利特维年科（Vladimir Litvinenko）数十年来坚持倡导非生物成因石油假说。该理论主张，碳氢化合物是在地幔与地壳更深处的高压极端环境下由无机物直接合成，随后沿着地壳断裂带向上渗透至常规储层。利特维年科声称，这种生成机制意味着油田具备在人类或半人类时间跨度内自我补充的能力，并在2023年的一次行业会议上宣称，许多早应枯竭的老油田至今仍在产出正是由于深部资源不断流入。物理学上，无机环境合成碳氢化合物确实具有可行性，例如深海海底喷口即可在缺乏生物活动的环境下生成无机甲烷。但关键的分歧在于生成规模及其聚集位置。常规开采的天然原油中普遍含有清晰可辨的生物标志物与有机残留，缺乏大规模纯无机商业油气藏的证据，这使得非生物成因论在科学界始终处于边缘地位。地缘政治诉求与科学审查指控 (4:05) 利特维年科对非生物成因假说的推动伴随着强烈的地缘政治诉求和对抗叙事。在他公开发表的观点中，他将主流地质界对该理论的忽视归咎于西方的政治操弄，指责20世纪末无机成因说遭到了非理性边缘化，并将这一学术冷遇比作苏联在1930年代至1960年代对遗传学家的政治迫害。利特维年科进一步指控罗马俱乐部等国际智库可能蓄意制造能源枯竭的末日预测，以此为其全球人口削减政策提供借口。在舆论层面，利特维年科抨击了倡导绿色能源转型的环保主义者以及警告全球石油将在20至30年内耗尽的言论。他认为这类资源枯竭论调是被武器化的宣传叙事，意在制造俄罗斯经济即将崩溃的假象并削弱其工业地位。对他而言，发掘深层“无限能源”不仅是一项地质科学探险，更是俄罗斯破除西方叙事压制、在世界格局中确立超级大国领导地位的战略核心。科米8公里钻井的验证标准与质疑 (4:05) 为验证该理论，圣彼得堡矿业大学在科米石油产区启动了8公里超深钻井工程。尽管超深储层并非绝无可能（例如中国曾勘探到极深储层），但在地表8公里以下的坚硬岩层中寻获具备商业流动性的碳氢化合物极为罕见。如果该井成功抽取到深层油气，科研人员必须通过实验室检测确认其完全不含生物标志物，并且需要监测该油藏是否能在短期内迅速自我补给，而非依赖以数十亿年计的地质循环。然而，国际大型商业石油公司在过去数十年间曾花费巨资在全球范围内搜寻超深部非生物成因油藏，至今未曾发现任何具有经济开采价值的储位。科学评论者指出，这种无休止自我补充的油田设想本质上是一种地缘政治焦虑下的“一厢情愿”。如果该工程最终未能获得预期的无机油气流，这口昂贵的深井充其量只能成为否定非生物成油理论的又一处地质实证。非生物合成简单碳氢分子在地质物理上具备可行性，但国际油气工业界数十年来的勘探从未证实存在具有商业价值的快速自我补充油藏。科米地区8公里的超深井若无法提供排除有机残留且能在短时间内自我注满的严格证据，这项耗资巨大的国家级工程更可能以一处昂贵的工程遗迹告终，而非改写现代能源地质学。

Source quotes

[4:05] Vladimir Litvinenko: By the end of the 20th century, the theory of the abiogenic origin of hydrocarbons was unreasonably marginalized. The situation was reminiscent of the persecution of geneticists in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1960s. [4:05] Vladimir Litvinenko: It's possible that the Club of Rome itself needed an apocalyptic forecast for energy resources to justify its policy of global population reduction.

Original transcript

[0:00] Vladimir Putin's former dissertation supervisor, whose name is also Vladimir, is convinced that [0:07] oil fields can refill themselves. And now Russia's drilling a hole 8 kilometers into [0:14] the ground to prove it. If he's right, Russia has a good chance to become the global superpower it [0:20] always wanted to be. If he's wrong, Russia will have an extremely expensive hole. [0:26] Let's have a look. Mental health problems. sometimes manifest themselves in non-obvious ways. [0:33] Some people develop unhealthy eating habits, some procrastinate, some get angry, and this [0:39] can become a problem for the people around them, too. Today's paid partner, BetterHelp, can help [0:46] you take care of this. BetterHelp is an online service that helps you find a good therapist for [0:53] your particular needs, and it's incredibly simple. You go to their site, answer a few questions, [0:59] and they'll match you to a credential therapist quickly, and you can do it all from your phone [1:05] or computer via phone call, video chat, or messaging, however you feel most comfortable. [1:11] I know they've had some mixed reviews in the past, but they've taken this criticism very seriously [1:18] and now have a much improved service with a 4.8 out of five rating in the App Store. If you use my [1:25] link betterhelp.com/sabinehossenfelder or enter my code during sign up, you'll get a 10% discount on your first [1:33] month. I have a long history of mental health problems and getting treatment is not something [1:39] you should delay. And now without further delay, back to the science news. The man behind this is [1:45] Vladimir Litvinenko, director of St. Petersburg Mining University. He supervised Vladimir Putin's [1:52] economics dissertation in the 1990s and later ran Putin's presidential campaigns in St. Petersburg. [1:59] Litvinenko is also a billionaire with close ties to Russia's mineral industry. And for years, [2:06] he's argued that oil doesn't have to come from fossils. The usual explanation is that oil and [2:13] gas formed from ancient biological material buried in sediment heated and transformed over millions [2:19] of years. Litvinenko instead supports what's called the abiogenic hypothesis. According to this idea, [2:25] hydrocarbons form from inorganic material much deeper inside earth basically due to [2:31] high pressure and then they rise through cracks. The important thing is that this geologically [2:37] produced abiogenic oil can replenish itself in contrast to fossil fuels. We've talked about the [2:46] abiogenic oil hypothesis previously because it's popular among climate change deniers. [2:53] The reason is probably that it gives them a reason to question the need for renewable energy. Now, [2:59] let me be clear. We know that the oil that we currently use is of organic origin. This is [3:06] because it contains residues from whatever the fossil was that's rotten away and that can be [3:12] used to identify the origin of the oil. That said, it's also true that methane as well as [3:19] oil can be produced by geological processes deep underground if you have enough pressure. In fact, [3:26] some of the methane bubbles underneath the ocean floor seem to have come about in this way. So, [3:32] abiogenic oil does almost certainly exist. I don't think any scientist questions this. [3:38] The relevant question is how much and where. Litvinenko is very bullish on the idea. He thinks [3:45] there is a lot of abiogenic oil and he thinks there's good evidence. At a conference in 2023, [3:52] he claimed that some oil reservoirs should have been exhausted long ago, but production continues, [3:59] quote, precisely because the reserves are being replenished. Since I'm already quoting the guy, [4:05] he's got an entire conspiracy theory about how his pet theory has been suppressed. In an opinion [4:12] piece from last year, he wrote, "By the end of the 20th century, the theory of the abiogenic origin of [4:20] hydrocarbons was unreasonably marginalized. The situation was reminiscent of the persecution of [4:27] geneticists in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1960s. Reasoned scientific debate gave [4:34] way to dogmatism. It's possible that the Club of Rome itself needed an apocalyptic forecast [4:40] for energy resources to justify its policy of global population reduction. He's also said in [4:47] an interview that pseudo-ecologists who swear by "green energy" and hysterical voices who proclaim [4:54] that there's only 20 to 30 years worth of oil left claim that Russia's on the brink of collapse [5:00] and that this also explains what's happening in the German industry. To make a long story short, [5:06] he wants to assure Russia its rightful status as world leader by finding infinite oil. Now, [5:12] Litenko is getting the chance to test it. St. Petersburg Mining University says it's [5:18] drilling an 8 kilometers deep well in Komi. That's a remote oil producing region west of [5:24] the Ural Mountains. Normal fossil fuels usually not found that deep underground. It's not unheard [5:30] of. For example, in China, there are some super deep oil reservoirs, but it's somewhat unusual. [5:35] You then have to test the oil for organic traces. And most importantly, I guess you [5:39] want to check whether the reservoir replenishes on time scales less than a few billion years. Oil [5:46] that never runs out would certainly be useful to Russia. It' also be useful to oil companies, which [5:53] is why oil companies have been looking for the great abiogenic oil fields for decades. So far, [5:59] they haven't found any. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the Russians drilling holes. Indeed, [6:04] for what I'm concerned, I wouldn't mind if they spent more time drilling holes and less [6:10] time threatening the neighbor countries with the assimilation. But to me, the entire idea [6:14] of abiogenic oil looks like a bad case of wishful thinking. Still, an 8 km hole has its uses. [6:22] If the results arrive, Russia can bury the theory there. Thanks for watching. See you tomorrow.