Gulf Oil Full Of Methane, Adding New Concerns

Associated Press ^ | June 18, 2010 | MATTHEW BROWN and RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI

[numberonepal]

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...

[Moonman62]

Doesn’t the methane mostly evaporate as well as half the oil?

[Wonder Warthog]

"I realize that the oil is the primary concern, but if millions of cubic feet of gas are making it to the surface, why can’t they capture that as well?"

Nat. gas (and and I think most of the oil, as well) in the GOM is typically transported by pipeline(s). No real infrastructure (which is expensive, heavy, and complex) to produce and store CNG.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Doesn’t the methane mostly evaporate as well as half the oil?"

Yes.

[combat_boots]

Update:

Received from a FRiend....

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5 P.M. UPDATE: Coast Guard authorized to burn oil off Florida, health notification issued

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection authorized the Coast Guard to burn oil offshore, and the county is warning people of potential health issues.

Particulate matter, an airborne mix of very small particles and liquid droplets, may reach the shore, according to an Okaloosa County Health Department news release.

Particulate matter may not reach the shore if the fires are far enough away. Responders will monitor weather conditions and “stop the burn right away if there is any problem,” the release reads.

People on the coast may smell the oil spill odor of volatile organic compounds, similar to the smell at a gas station.

“You can smell these VOCs at levels well below those that would make you sick,” the release reads.

Exposure to low levels may cause eye, nose, skin and throat irritation.”

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/beach-30133-cleaned-beaches.html

Gulf oil full of methane, adding new concerns
June 18, 2010 3:26 PM
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — 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.”

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/live-30165-adding-methane.html

[AFreeBird]

I had forgotten about compression. Thanks. Still, it seems like an awful waste.

[Blueflag]

It doesn’t technically evaporate since it is already a gas. It would dissipate on its own, but they burn it (they call it flaring) to reduce the chance of an uncontrolled fire (flames on the surface of the ocean — looks hellish, and hinders ship movement, but not a disaster.)

[Calamari]

The squid and peppers sounds great!

I like to do mine either flash fried for not more than about 1.5 minutes or in a long simmered tomato sauce—more than 2.5 hours. Nothing in between or the squid will be as tough as a bicycle inner tube.