HAWORTH. | Origin of Oil and Gas. 1984 
Since the above discussion on the origin of oil and gas was written 
my attention has been called to a recent article in the Chemisches Zentral- 
blatt, which gives an abstract of an address on this subject delivered by 
Dr. C. Engler, of Germany, which address is so important that it is 
thought desirable to publish the abstract in full. At my request Prof. 
F. W. Bushong, of the University of Kansas, made a translation of the 
paper, which is hereto appended in the form of a special sheet after the 
body of this report was issued from the press.—E. H. 
THE ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. 
BY DR. C. ENGLER. 
An abstract of an Address Before the Verein Deutscher Chemiker. 
Translated from the Chemisches Zentralblatt, 1908, vol. 2, p. 976, by Prof. F. W. Bushong. 
“The last year has witnessed an unmistakable clarification of opinions 
on this subject. The speaker describes the development of both the in- 
organic and organic hypotheses and the prominence recently acquired by 
the latter. In the following abstract the more important generalizations 
regarding the changes of organic substances in their transition into 
petroleum are presented. 
“The first phase in the process of bitumenization consists of fermenta- 
tion or decay, as a result of which the albuminous matter and the sub- 
stance of the plant-cells in general disappear. Only the fatty matters, 
including waxes and small quantities of the more stable substances, 
among which are to be found fatty acids and some albumious matter, re- 
main undecomposed. 
“The second phase, which may have already begun in part during the 
first phase, is the saponification of fat glycerides with the separation of 
free fatty acids through the action of water, or ferments, or of both. To 
what extent also wax esters may be split up hydrolytically is not fully 
determined. 
“In the third phase the splitting off of carbonic acid from the acids or 
esters, and of water from alcohols, oxyacids, etc., occurs, with the re- 
sulting formation of high molecular hydrocarbons which may still con- 
tain admixtures of oxygen compounds (ozokerite, Seeschlickbitumen). 
“In the fourth phase the formation of a mixture of liquid hydro- 
carbons takes place energetically with the splitting up of high molecular 
intermediate substances into lighter liquid and gaseous products. To 
bring about these reactions an expenditure of energy was necessary, 
which, at but a slightly elevated temperature, can only be supplied through 
long periods of time. Experiments have shown that, with proper regu- 
lations of temperature and pressure during distillation, high molecular 
fats and hydrocarbons may be split up at will—at moderate tempera- 
tures and pressures into intermediate oils, and at high temperatures and 
pressures into lighter oils. There is also a difference whether the pres- 
sure is brought about through vapors due to the reaction, or through 
gases which take no part in the reaction. 
“The variations of temperature which occur in the crust of the earth 
