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Petroleum accrued in the Middle East in the same way it accrued in the Caspian Basin and North Venezuela. Adjacent seas were covered by shallow oceans. Over a period of millions of years the remains of marine animals and plants fell to the sea floor, they accumulated into thick layers and eventually were covered by layers of sand and silt. Over time, the immense weight of all of these layers compressed the lower layers into sedimentary rock. Bacterial actions, heat, and pressure converted the remains of the animals and plants into petroleum. The Arab States conveniently sit atop it.

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13y ago

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