Methane in Gulf "astonishingly high": U.S. scientist - (Reuters) - As much as 1 million times the normal level of methane gas has been found in some regions near the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, enough to potentially deplete oxygen and create a dead zone, U.S. scientists said on Tuesday.
Texas A&M University oceanography professor John Kessler, just back from a 10-day research expedition near the BP Plc oil spill in the gulf, says methane gas levels in some areas are "astonishingly high."
Kessler's crew took measurements of both surface and deep water within a 5-mile (8 kilometer) radius of BP's broken wellhead.
"There is an incredible amount of methane in there," Kessler told reporters in a telephone briefing.
In some areas, the crew of 12 scientists found concentrations that were 100,000 times higher than normal.
- DR. TOM TERMOTO : DIRE REALITIES OF THE METHANE PREDICAMENT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Methane Gas, Methane Hydrate & Methane Clathrate Formations and Behavior
There has been a spate of articles recently throughout the MSM and alternative media depicting the methane gas predicament associated with the BP Gulf Oil Spill. Many of these perspectives portray an alarming state of affairs concerning extremely high concentrations of methane that have accumulated in numerous areas in the Gulf of Mexico. The two primary issues of concern are the methane effects in the aquatic environment and the methane gas accumulations in the atmosphere above the Gulf and within contiguous land masses. In regard to the latter, the weather patterns will reign supreme. Once methane rises above the surface of the Gulf, where it goes, how it accumulates and what its toxic effects on life will be, is going to be dictated to a great extent by the weather.
"How's the weather down there?" When we ask each other this question, aren't we really asking, "How are the elements (elementals) treating us?" Well this question will never be more important to the residents rimming the Gulf of Mexico as we gear up for a long, hot, deep south summer with its likely share of hurricanes, tropical storms and depressions, which, by the way, can be a good or bad thing for "natural" oil spill remediation depending on a numerous factors and circumstances.
Methane Gas Explosion in the Gulf Could Kill Millions
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/191725/dave_jackson.html?message=trueDAVE JACKSON
How the ultimate BP Gulf disaster could kill millions
BP found more than they bargained for in the Gulf - a mega pocket of highly pressurized methane gas. The worst environmental disaster in
Fueled by secrecy - fear, anxiety and suspicion are escalating. A devastating eruption of methane gas, buried deep beneath the sea floor, could absolutely decimate the region. Even worse, this eruption could inundate the low lying coast line with a tsunami. [1]
High Risk Area for Methane and Blowouts
The extreme methane risk was well known before drilling commenced. Geologists warned oil companies working in the area that massive pockets of methane gas exist. The risk for a blowout and methane explosion was considered to be extremely high. [1]
BP chose to drill an ultra deep well directly above such a pocket - this one as large as
Discoveries of natural gas are, of course, an important part of exploration. But the pressures of these methane pockets were predicted to be far higher than current technology can deal with. Typical well head pressures are in the
No drilling equipment can handle this amount of pressure. Given the extreme risks (and benefits) involved with drilling in this location, BP is keeping a tight lid on data regarding pressures and drilling depth. There is speculation that the drilling went to at least
Evidence for a Serious Methane Gas Threat
The threat of a methane gas explosion in the Gulf has been attributed to fear mongering. Is there any evidence to these claims? Robotic submarines are returning some very alarming video footage of methane gas hazards.
Cracks and fissures are opening up on the sea floor over an area of several miles. A number of "pock marks" have appeared on the sea floor as far as
Frighteningly, these fissures appear to be growing and connecting with each other. The methane pock marks are growing in size. Even worse, the weakened sea floor is being heaved up into a massive, fracturing, mound. A geological time bomb, previously locked away under miles of rock, has been disturbed. Fear is growing for the very grim possibility that a methane gas bubble, 15 to
John Kessler of
In addition to methane, the EPA has found extremely high levels of benzene and hydrogen sulphide. Early H2S readings were 1,200 ppb - far higher than the allowed 5 - 10 ppb. [4]
It appears that BP did drill an ultra deep well, piercing an absolutely immense bubble of high pressure methane. Could they have unleashed a disaster that is unfolding with no possibility of reversal?
How Could the Ultimate BP Disaster Kill Millions?
The worst case scenarios are truly horrific. If this methane gas bubble ruptures the sea floor and unleashes itself, the devastation and loss of life would be unprecedented in human history. The loss of life would not be limited to oil field and spill clean up personnel - millions of lives all across the
The smallest problem: methane gas is not buoyant enough to float ships or oil rigs. Any vessels in the area would immediately sink. Similarly, aircraft cannot fly in methane - any aircraft would lose lift and simply fall out of the sky.
Any Underwater Disturbance can Cause a Tsunami. [7]
The amount of water displaced by such a methane gas bubble could easily generate a tsunami - likely of a magnitude that humanity has never seen before. A gigantic cavity would be left where the methane existed – which would immediately flood with sea water. Because of the extreme depths of the methane gas bubble, the temperatures are far above the boiling point of water. The icy sea water would explosively convert to steam, increase in volume dramatically, and erupt upwards to cause a second and possibly even larger tsunami. [1]
Looking at an elevation map of the Gulf and eastern seaboard of the
Claims have been made that methane dissipates in water and simply cannot explode. But methane can and does rise to the surface and certainly can explode. In fact, the drilling rig itself was destroyed by a methane gas explosion seconds after the blowout. [9] This explosion and fire claimed 11 lives. But what would happen if the entire methane gas pocket was to erupt to the surface and explode?
Methane gas is explosive in atmospheric ratios between 5% and 15% - a wider range than gasoline. Hundreds of billions of cubic feet of methane could burst free in a matter of seconds - a situation that BP calls an "open communication to the sea floor". (8 billion cubic feet have already been released from the blown out well alone.) The possible detonation and fireball has been referred to as "biblical" in size and destruction - several times larger than the most powerful nuclear weapon ever exploded.
Environmental Catastrophe
Methane gas is 25 times more efficient as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide, over a 100 year period. [10] What could happen if all this methane erupted to the surface but did not explode? Those that survived the tsunamis would be spared the greatest explosion ever witnessed. Instead, a runaway acceleration of our global warming crisis could easily result.
Such releases of methane have happened before. 55 million years ago, uplifting tectonic plates began the process that created the
A temperature rise of this magnitude could potentially submerge our cities and our best agricultural land. Hundreds of millions of people, at the very least, could perish world wide through starvation and economic collapse.
The troubled Macondo well, far behind schedule, was turning into a financial horror show for BP. The crew, supervisors, and even Halliburton were gravely concerned about a major blowout . Blatant disregard for safety was shown right from the initial application through to the final explosion and sinking of the rig. Their efforts to save a few million dollars may dramatically change the course of history.
What if BP did punch an ultra deep well directly into a gargantuan pocket of methane - a pocket so deep that we have no experience with the pressures involved? What if the sea floor is beginning to unzip? Could this methane bubble tear through several miles of solid rock? Sedimentary rock, probably sandstone, isn't very solid really. It is already riddled with natural faults and has now been severely tampered with. Even hard granite is at risk because of it's vulnerability to crack propagation.
Will this liberated methane detonate in a "biblical fireball"? Will the
These are very grim questions that no one can answer. The situation is almost too frightening to believe. We've never experienced methane discharges or well pressures anywhere near these levels, and something very terrible is happening deep in the Gulf.
Terrible enough that detonating a nuclear blast to kill the well has been considered. As risky and radical as it sounds, the heat could cause a durable layer of glass to form over the entire problem. Or, it could make the problem worse - much worse...
Sources:
[1] Gulf Oil Gusher: Danger of Tsunamis from Methane?
[2] Kenneth S. Deffeyes, "Beyond Oil: The View From Hubbert's Peak
[3] Gulf Oil Full of Methane, Adding New Concerns
[4] BP Death Clouds Already Onshore!
[5] 1 million times the normal level of methane gas near the Gulf oil spill
[6] Coast to Coast AM Radio
[7]
[8] New Warning:
[9] Worker: Transocean, BP argued before blast
[10] Methane
[11] Methane Explosion Warmed the Prehistoric Earth, Possible Again
BP's Well Cap Could Spell Disaster for the Gulf
The risk of a methane gas explosion in the Gulf is now greater than ever. The long awaited well cap has finally stopped the flow of oil. But the pressure on the entire Macondo well, already tortured for months, is causing
enormous fear. Deadly cracks in the sea floor could propagate and release the underlying methane pocket - a disaster with unimaginable implications for the entire planet.
Secrecy still shrouds many of the important details. A media ban, backed up with a $40,000 fine and threat of felony charges, only adds to the suspicion that something very dangerous is happening in the Gulf.
Real Danger
The threat that escalating pressure could permanently damage the well and cause leaks elsewhere is very real. President Obama ordered a delay to testing the well cap for this very reason. Many geologists have suggested that capping the well is too risky to attempt at all. Allowing the well to gush oil into the Gulf is of course an unpalatable scenario to live with. But a methane eruption of this magnitude would absolutely decimate the region. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5545850/methane_gas_explosion_in_the_gulf_could.html?cat=7
Cracks on the Sea Floor
Visible cracks on the sea floor are shown on many video feeds - a truly terrifying sight for those of us who know the risks involved. If these cracks run as deep as many suspect, the prospects for a complete disaster are grim. If the well is in fact an ultra deep well, as many suspect, these cracks could very well involve hard rock - right into the earth's mantle. Once rock such as granite begins cracking, crack propagation is almost inevitable when extreme pressures are applied. If these cracks are deep enough to cause problems we would see oil and methane leakage in other areas. Unfortunately, leaks over a
The Pressure Secret
If BP's well is "only"
The design of the well cap adds greatly to the suspicion of an ultra deep well and unprecedented pressures. The specifications released by BP show the pipe thickness to be
Methane Bubble
These cracks on the sea floor wouldn't be so horrifying and deadly if they weren't located in the vicinity of a pocket of methane so large that it's release could change the course of history. Geologists warned drillers several years ago about the size of these methane pockets, and of the very unstable nature of the region. The Gulf may have already been the scene of a mass extinction and climate changing eruption of methane many millions of years ago.
Why would BP chose to drill an ultra deep well into such an area? Why would they cut so may corners and take so many risks? Will the damaged well and cracked and tortured sea floor be able to withstand the newly inflicted pressures? Only time will tell.
Sources:
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article20892.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5545850/methane_gas_explosion_in_the_gulf_could.html?cat=7
http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechnicalupdate061010a.htm
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