Gulf Oil Full Of Methane, Adding New Concerns

[marmar]

AP via HuffPost:



NEW ORLEANS (Associated Press) - It is an overlooked danger in oil spill crisis: The crude gushing from the well contains vast amounts of natural gas that could pose a serious threat to the Gulf of Mexico's fragile ecosystem.

The oil emanating from the seafloor contains about 40 percent methane, compared with about 5 percent found in typical oil deposits, said John Kessler, a Texas A&M University oceanographer who is studying the impact of methane from the spill.

That means huge quantities of methane have entered the Gulf, scientists say, potentially suffocating marine life and creating "dead zones" where oxygen is so depleted that nothing lives.

"This is the most vigorous methane eruption in modern human history," Kessler said.

Methane is a colorless, odorless and flammable substance that is a major component in the natural gas used to heat people's homes. Petroleum engineers typically burn off excess gas attached to crude before the oil is shipped off to the refinery. That's exactly what BP has done as it has captured more than 7.5 million gallons of crude from the breached well. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/18/gulf-oil-full-of-methane_n_616963.html

[Cleita]

1. When you think things can't get worse........

:-(

[depakid]

2. There's no foreseeable limit on how much "worser" this one's going to get

on every level one can think of.

[xchrom]

3. As the weeks roll by

Every one is going to be amazed at the growing devastation.

[alfredo]

4. methane is a main culprit in climate change.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/earth-environment/article6895907.ece

Methane’s impact on global warming far higher than previously thought
Mark Henderson, Science Editor
The effects of a critical greenhouse gas on global warming have been significantly underestimated, according to research suggesting that emissions controls and climate models may need to be revised

Methane’s impact on global temperatures is about a third higher than generally thought because previous estimates have not accounted for its interaction with airborne particles called aerosols, Nasa scientists found.

When this indirect effect of the potent greenhouse gas is included one tonne of methane has about 33 times as much effect on the climate over 100 years as a tonne of carbon dioxide, rather than 25 times as in standard estimates.

[lostnfound]

5. Is that 40% by volume or by weight, and if by volume, at what pressure?

Anyone have an idea?