text: what are roles of organic matter in petroleum generation?   most geologists view crude oil, like coal and natural gas, as the product of compression and heating of ancient vegetation over geologic time scales. according to this theory, it is formed from the decayed remains of prehistoric marine animals and terrestrial plants. over many centuries this organic matter, mixed with dried mud, is buried under thick sedimentary layers of material. the resulting high levels of heat and pressure cause the remains to metamorphose, first into a waxy material known as kerogen, and then into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in a process known as catagenesis. these then migrate through adjacent rock layers until they become trapped underground in porous rocks called reservoirs, forming an oil field, from which the liquid can be extracted by drilling and pumping.