Making the paper: Steve Larter.

The article reports that a research team in Canada is investigating an anaerobic microorganisms which can degrade oil hydrocarbons through fermentation. The study, which was funded by the oil industry and headed by Steve Larter of the University of Calgary, was able to produce methane as a byproduct. Methane was formed through the reaction with hydrocarbons in the oil to produce acetic acid, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. A combination of microbial studies, laboratory oil degradation experiments and case studies from various oilfields were used by the researchers. It was claimed that methane offers the same amount of energy as oil and gives off less carbon dioxide.