METHANE IN WATER Methane gas has migrated into aquifers in
Colorado as a result of fracking. Many people in Colorado can
light their tap water on fire because it contains methane gas
that suddenly appeared after fracking happened nearby. According
to COGCC, that isn't enough to prove it was caused by drilling
because a distinction is made between biogenic and thermogenic
natural gas. Biogenic gas is created by decomposing organic
material and is found in pockets close to the surface.
Thermogenic gas is created by intense pressure in underground
rock formations and can come only from deeper layers. The
difference can be determined by isotopic tests that fingerprint
the gas. But identifying the type of gas doesn't explain how it
migrated into the aquifer. It also doesn’t mean it wasn't caused
by drilling. People are intensely frustrated that COGCC didn't
do any real hydro-geologic surveying to determine how the gas
got into the water supply before they ruled it had nothing to do
with gas drilling. Oil industry