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The abiogenic theory was favored early because in the late 19th century it was believed that the Earth was extremely hot (possibly molten rock) during its formation. This would have precluded the accretion of hydrocarbons, which would have been oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. When it was later discovered that all fossil fuels contain traces of biological debris, the biogenic theory gained strength because no one believed that life (even microbial life) could exist at the depths at which petroleum had been found.
Subsequently, it has become clear that the Earth formed by accretion of cold matter. Microbial life has also been discovered 4.2 kilometers deep in Alaska and 5.2 kilometers deep in Sweden. Further, at least ten bodies in our solar system are thought to contain traces of hydrocarbons. These discoveries led to a revival of the abiogenic theory, popularized by Thomas Gold.
In the middle of the 20th century it was possible to divide supporters of the two theories along geographic lines. Petroleum geologists in the United States and many in Europe favored the biogenic theory whilst those in Russia and also many microbiologists favored the abiogenic theory. Nowadays, however, the biogenic theory is widely regarded as correct based on significant advances in the understanding of chemical processes and organic reactions and improved knowledge about the effects of heating and pressure during burial and diagenesis of organic sediments.
When generating electricity, energy from the combustion of fossil fuels is often used to power a turbine. Older generators used steam generated by the burning of the fuel to turn the turbine, but in newer power plants the gases produced by burning of the fuel turn a gas turbine directly.
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