In summary, crude oil seeps out of the ground on the Caribbean island due to geological formations and the presence of hydrocarbons beneath the surface. Natural processes, such as the decomposition of organic materials and the movement of tectonic plates, lead to the accumulation of oil, which can find its way to the surface through fractures and porous rock layers. The island's specific geological history and structures facilitate these oil seeps, making them a notable feature of the landscape.
TL;DR Summary: Why does crude oil seep out of the ground on this beautiful Caribbean Island?
It may be due to shallow deposits of organic matter - formerly marine plants and animals that were buried in the sediment, then that sediment formation is gradually subducted under the Caribbean Plate. There may be some thermal effects as well. The oil/gas may be squeezed out of formation by hydraulic pressure, and the oil/gas is much less dense than the surrounding sedimentary rock.
Note that Venezuela is a oil/gas producer and Guyana has off-shore oil/gas deposits.
Georgetown, Guyana is only about 435 miles (700 km) from Barbados, and the north western coast is closer.
Further to the NW of Guyana and closer to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago also have oil and gas deposits offshore. https://ngc.co.tt/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-map-of-tnt-2023.pdf
I think it is from the same underlying formation that produces the Venezuelan oil, on the same plate.
Uplift and erosion of Barbados has removed the cap-rock that confined the oil. As salt water sinks, hydrostatic pressure pushes oil upwards, to appear at the surface.
#6
OmCheeto
Gold Member
2,422
3,108
Ha! For the first few minutes of the video, I thought it was some mansplaining type thing with the ballcapped mc in the corner. But a few minutes later, I was like, "WOW! I think this guy may have a Phd."
Now I want to find a kml file of oil deposits for Google Earth.
Whoop whoop! New project for this winter.
#7
johnbbahm
305
33
He did a good job of explaining things and a good perspective drawing.
Many decades ago I worked for Western Geophysical, and was exposed to a lot of our
understanding of geology and oil. Basically oil is a mid step in the breakdown of organic matter.
It exists in low density almost everywhere, but is concentrated by geology.
Permeable layers underneath sloped impermeable layers, cause the oil to collect in traps.
The oil is less dense than water, and so is forced into the traps.
If the trap is not sealed, the oil is pushed out!
( I apologize for my poor memory, of a lunch conversation with a global expert more than 4 decades ago.)