Conventional Fossil Fuel Extraction, Associated Biogeochemical Processes, and Topography Influence Methane Groundwater Concentrations in Appalachia.
Environ Sci Technol
; 57(48): 19702-19712, 2023 Dec 05.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37982799
ABSTRACT
The production of fossil fuels, including oil, gas, and coal, retains a dominant share in US energy production and serves as a major anthropogenic source of methane, a greenhouse gas with a high warming potential. In addition to directly emitting methane into the air, fossil fuel production can release methane into groundwater, and that methane may eventually reach the atmosphere. In this study, we collected 311 water samples from an unconventional oil and gas (UOG) production region in Pennsylvania and an oil and gas (O&G) and coal production region across Ohio and West Virginia. Methane concentration was negatively correlated to distance to the nearest O&G well in the second region, but such a correlation was shown to be driven by topography as a confounding variable. Furthermore, sulfate concentration was negatively correlated with methane concentration and with distance to coal mining in the second region, and these correlations were robust even when considering topography. We hypothesized that coal mining enriched sulfate in groundwater, which in turn inhibited methanogenesis and enhanced microbial methane oxidation. Thus, this study highlights the complex interplay of multiple factors in shaping groundwater methane concentrations, including biogeochemical conversion, topography, and conventional fossil extraction.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Água Subterrânea
/
Combustíveis Fósseis
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article