Russia's plan to drill in Arctic revives controversial theory of 'endless oil'
Russia plans to drill superdeep boreholes in the Arctic, a project that rekindles the disputed abiotic oil theory, which suggests petroleum can form from non-biological sources deep within the Earth rather than from ancient organic matter. Critics argue the multibillion-ruble venture is scientifically questionable and could be an attempt to justify expanded Arctic drilling.
Background
- The "abiotic oil" theory claims petroleum forms from deep-Earth chemical processes, not from fossilized organic matter — meaning oil could be nearly limitless. Mainstream geology rejects this, holding that oil is a finite fossil fuel.
- Russia has long backed abiotic theory, partly because its Siberian fields fit the model. It now plans superdeep Arctic boreholes to test it — a project with huge geopolitical stakes.
- Superdeep drilling (like the Soviet Kola Borehole, 12 km deep) is technically extreme and extremely expensive. Evidence supporting abiotic oil would challenge global assumptions about peak oil, resource scarcity, and decarbonization, potentially shifting energy power balances away from the Middle East.