Scientists reported that bacteria consumed almost all of the methane released from BP's broken wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico last year, preventing it from contributing to climate change. Despite the loss of about 1 million tons of dissolved oxygen, the bacteria's consumption of methane did not lead to a life-threatening low-oxygen condition. This finding is important for climate scientists, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Similar to carbon dioxide, methane is produced by both natural and human activities, including the petroleum industry. Following the BP blowout in April 2010, methane was not being consumed in and around the wellhead for two months, causing concern among scientists that it could linger in the water and eventually reach the atmosphere, potentially contributing to climate change by trapping heat. Researcher Valentine noted that large-scale methane releases in the past have warmed the climate, and he and his colleagues are investigating the role bacteria may have played in those instances. The BP oil spill was an accidental experiment that demonstrated how specific bacteria that feed on methane multiplied rapidly as the methane spread through the underwater plume from the damaged well. The highest consumption of methane likely occurred in late July and early August. Other organisms were responsible for consuming different hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane released during the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The methane-eating bacteria were the last to join the feast of hydrocarbons, and based on previous observations, scientists were unsure if they could effectively consume the methane. Despite expectations of slow methane consumption, the bacteria population proved to be up to the challenge, much to the surprise of the scientists. The scientists suggested that if bacteria were able to consume a significant amount of methane, they may also be able to absorb other large-scale deep ocean methane releases. Last month, the US government filed a civil suit against BP and its partners for the damage caused by the spill. The White House commission on the oil spill stated on Wednesday that BP and its partners' cost-cutting decisions played a role in causing the spill.