Characterization and microbial mitigation of fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas wells: Example from Indiana, USA

Journal Article · Wed May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Applied Geochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104619· OSTI ID:1618044

Yin, Yidong ^[1]; Mastalerz, Maria ^[2]; Lennon, Jay T. ^[3]; Drobniak, Agnieszka ^[2]; Schimmelmann, Arndt ^[3]

---

1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States); Indiana University
2. Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Bloomington, IN (United States)
3. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)

Hydrocarbon gas emissions from active, inactive, and improperly sealed or abandoned oil/gas wells significantly contribute to anthropogenically emitted greenhouse gases, predominantly in the form of methane (CH₄). We explored the extent of hydrocarbon gas emissions from 20 active, inactive, plugged and abandoned oil/gas wells in Indiana (USA), where it is estimated that there are more than 80,000 well sites throughout the state. After this initial survey, using a static flux tent, we quantified fugitive CH4 emissions from an active gas well to approximately 2 L h^-1. To evaluate the potential for microbial mitigation of hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere, we conducted laboratory microcosm experiments to quantify the CH₄ oxidizing potential of soils collected from sites with varying distances to the leaking gas well. Soils in close proximity to the well (0.5 m) efficiently consumed nearly all (97 %) of the added CH₄, while only 14 % of added CH₄ was consumed by soils that were more distant from the well (20 m). These results suggest that fugitive CH₄ emissions enrich methanotrophic bacteria in soils immediately adjacent to the well. Consistent with this view, we found that prolonged exposure of soils to elevated concentrations of CH₄ enhanced the methanotrophic activity. Together, these findings prompted us to design a “methanotrophic soil mound” to assess the feasibility of mitigating point sources of CH₄ by harnessing the natural methanotrophic capacity of soil microbial communities. We found that a methanotrophic soil mound from a landfill could sustainably mitigate the CH₄ emission from the artificial source, providing a promising low-cost solution to ameliorate fugitive CH₄ emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells to the atmosphere. Finally, the effectiveness of microbe-based remediation is limited in cold climates and arid environments.

• Research Organization: Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0006978
• OSTI ID: 1618044
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1618012
• Journal Information: Applied Geochemistry, Journal Name: Applied Geochemistry Journal Issue: C Vol. 118; ISSN 0883-2927
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
abandoned well
gas well
hydrocarbon emission
methane leakage
methanotrophic soil mound
methanotrophy