Researchers Surprised by Sudden Reduction of Methane Gas in The Gulf

"It appeared that [Deepwater Horizon] methane would be present in the Gulf for years to come," stated oceanographer John Kessler of Texas A&M. 

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) -- The Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling platform exploded off the Louisiana coast on April 20, 2010, killing 11 workers and injuring 17 others. As a result of this tragedy, oil spewed into the sea at a rate of 62,000 barrels per day. It is estimated that 170 million gallons of oil gushed from the accident site into the Gulf before the leak was capped on July 15, and the wellhead permanently sealed on September 19.

Oceanographer David Valentine stated that, as a result of the spill, he and his colleagues "observed in June a horizon of deep water laden with methane and other hydrocarbon gases" in amounts about 100,000 times above normal levels. However, when the oceanographers returned in September and October, they found that in place of these high levels of gases "were residual methane-eating bacteria, and a 1 million-ton deficit in dissolved oxygen that we attribute to respiration of methane by these bacteria," stated Valentine.

After collecting thousands of water samples at 207 locations, the sudden lack of methane gas surprised the scientists. Oceanographer John Kessler said, "Based on our measurements from earlier in the summer and previous other measurements of methane respiration rates around the world, it appeared that [Deepwater Horizon] methane would be present in the Gulf for years to come. Instead, the methane respiration rates increased to levels higher than have ever been recorded, ultimately consuming it and prohibiting its release to the atmosphere."

Scientists think that huge methane releases in the deep ocean have occurred many times throughout Earth's history, which is thought to be a contributing factor in climate change. The oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy provided scientists with an opportunity "to track the fate of a massive methane release in the deep ocean," stated Valentine.

As a result of the data, the oceanographers learned that "releases of methane with similar characteristics will not have the capacity to influence the climate," stated Kessler.

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