What is methane and why is it a safety concern?
Methane (a gas composed of carbon and hydrogen) is produced two ways:
- Through biologic decomposition of organic matter at shallow depths. Swamps, landfills, and even shallow bedrock are some settings where this occurs.
- Methane can also be derived over millions of years by high pressure and high temperature processes that produce fossil fuels deep underground. Examples include coal deposits and oil and natural gas accumulations.
Under the right conditions, methane gas can migrate into water wells along with the groundwater. High concentrations of methane in water wells can accumulate in confined spaces and act as an asphyxiant or become flammable. These dangers can be mitigated through enhanced venting of the well casing or venting confined spaces (like basements) and removing any ignition sources.
Related Content
What are gas hydrates?
Why are some lakes full of algae and thick plants?
How does mine drainage occur?
Exploring Gas Hydrates as a Future Energy Source
In the past decade, the development of the Barnett, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, and other shales has dominated the national consciousness regarding natural gas. But in Alaska, another form of natural gas has been the focus of research for decades—methane hydrate.
Chemical and isotopic characteristics of methane in groundwater of Ohio, 2016
In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority, investigated the hydrogeologic setting, chemical and isotopic characteristics, and origin of methane in groundwater of Ohio. Understanding the occurrence and distribution of methane in groundwater is important in terms of public safety because methane in...
Thomas, Mary Ann
Methane in aquifers used for public supply in the United States
In 2013 to 2015, 833 public supply wells in 15 Principal aquifers in the U.S. were sampled to identify which aquifers contained high methane concentrations (>1 mg/L) and determine the geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical conditions associated with high concentrations. This study represents the first national assessment of methane in...
McMahon, Peter B.; Belitz, Kenneth; Barlow, Jeannie R. B.; Jurgens, Bryant C.
Methane occurrence in groundwater of south-central New York State, 2012: summary of findings
A survey of methane in groundwater was undertaken to document methane occurrence on the basis of hydrogeologic setting within a glaciated 1,810-square-mile area of south-central New York that has not seen shale-gas resource development. The adjacent region in northeastern Pennsylvania has undergone shale-gas resource development from the Marcellus...
Heisig, Paul M.; Scott, Tia-Marie
Occurrence of methane in groundwater of south-central New York State, 2012-systematic evaluation of a glaciated region by hydrogeologic setting
A survey of methane in groundwater was undertaken to document methane occurrence on the basis hydrogeologic setting within a glaciated 1,810-square-mile area of south-central New York along the Pennsylvania border. Sixty-six wells were sampled during the summer of 2012. All wells were at least 1 mile from any known gas well (active, exploratory,...
Heisig, Paul M.; Scott, Tia-Marie
Methane in West Virginia ground water
Mathes, W.V.; White, J.S.
The quality of our nation's waters; nutrients and pesticides; a summary
A review of the geochemistry of methane in natural gas hydrate
The largest accumulations on Earth of natural gas are in the form of gas hydrate, found mainly offshore in outer continental margin sediment and, to a lesser extent, in polar regions commonly associated with permafrost. Measurements of hydrocarbon gas compositions and of carbon-isotopic compositions of methane from natural gas hydrate samples,...
Kvenvolden, K. A.
USGS Finds Elevated Levels of Arsenic, Radon, Methane in Some Private Wells in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Tests of 75 private drinking water wells in Lycoming County, in north-central Pennsylvania, found water from most of the sampled wells contained concentrations of radon that exceeded a proposed, nonbinding health standard for drinking water. Smaller percentages of the wells contained concentrations of arsenic or methane that exceed existing drinking water standards.
Atlantic Methane Seeps Surprise Scientists
Recent scientific work has confirmed the source, composition and origin of methane seeps on the Atlantic Ocean seafloor, discovered in 2012, where scientists never expected them to be.
Methane from Some Wetlands May Lower Benefits of Carbon Sequestration
Methane emissions from restored wetlands may offset the benefits of carbon sequestration a new study from the U.S. Geological Survey suggests.
Natural Methane Seepage on U.S. Atlantic Ocean Margin Widespread
Natural methane leakage from the seafloor is far more widespread on the U.S. Atlantic margin than previously thought, according to a study by researchers from Mississippi State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, and other institutions.
Changes in Stream-Water Quality Attributed to Coalbed Methane Development
Three sites on the Powder River show a difference in water quality between the time prior to coalbed methane development and during the production period, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.
Melting Glaciers to Methane Gasses
Nearly 300 scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will present papers and posters describing their earth-science research, during the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, December 10 – 14.
Methane Sampling in Stream
A USGS scientist samples a stream in Utah, looking for methane contamination. Credit: USGS.
Methane hydrate
Methane hydrate is sometimes called "the ice that burns" because the warming hydrates release enough methane to sustain a flame.
Gas Hydrates Burning
An image of gas hydrates burning. Gas hydrates are naturally-occurring “ice-like” combinations of natural gas and water that have the potential to provide an immense resource of natural gas from the world’s oceans and polar regions.
Methane gas bubbles rise from the U.S. Atlantic Margin seafloor.
Methane gas bubbles rise from the seafloor – this type of activity, originally noticed by NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in 2012 on a multibeam sonar survey, is what led scientists to the area.
USGS Gas Hydrates Lab
Gas hydrates are a significant potential energy source occurring in ocean-floor sediments at water depths greater than 500 meters and beneath Arctic permafrost. The USGS operates a gas hydrates laboratory on its Menlo Park campus. This video features USGS geophysicists Laura Stern and Steve Kirby who relate details on how they study and create gas hydrates in their super-
Methane bubbles trapped in thermokarst lake ice
When ice-rich permafrost thaws, former tundra and forest turns into a thermokarst lake as the ground subsides. The carbon stored in the formerly frozen ground is consumed by the microbial community, who release methane gas. When lake ice forms in the winter, methane gas bubbles are trapped in the ice.
