...The team at NASA (click here) was finally able to take a closer look, and have now concluded that there is in fact a 2,500-square-mile cloud of methane—roughly the size of Delaware—floating over the Four Corners region, where the borders of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all intersect.
A report published by the NASA researchers in the journal Geophysical Research Letters concludes that “the source is likely from established gas, coal, and coalbed methane mining and processing.” Indeed, the hot spot happens to be above New Mexico's San Juan Basin, the most productive coalbed methane basin in North America.
A report published by the NASA researchers in the journal Geophysical Research Letters concludes that “the source is likely from established gas, coal, and coalbed methane mining and processing.” Indeed, the hot spot happens to be above New Mexico's San Juan Basin, the most productive coalbed methane basin in North America.
Methane is 20-times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2, and has been the focus of an increasing amount of attention, especially in regards to methane leaks from fracking for oil and natural gas. Pockets of natural gas, which is 95-98% methane, are often found along with oil and simply burned off in a very visible process called “flaring.” But scientists are starting to realize that far more methane is being released by the fracking boom than previously thought....
These are not natural emissions. This speaks to the density of production in that region of the country and the fact established practices in this industry are emitting large amounts of methane. The industry is not self-regulating to emissions of any kind.
Methane in its gas form is an asphyxiant, (click here) which in high concentrations may displace the oxygen supply you need for breathing, especially in confined spaces. Decreased oxygen can cause suffocation and loss of consciousness. It can also cause headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of coordination. Skin contact with liquid methane can cause frostbite.
If you think your health has been affected by exposure to methane, contact your health care professional.
For poisoning emergencies or questions about possible poisons, please contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
An asphyxiant is a chemical that displaces oxygen in the blood. OSHA needs to examine health records of the companies in this region of the country producing natural gas for any and all exposures of employees. Natural gas is heavier than air and can cause breathing problems and ultimately unconsciousness. If an employee were ever in an unconscious state for very long there would be death of that employee. This is not simply an issue of methane emissions. With emissions this dense that allow for satellite data to register it's prolonged presence that is a good chance the employees have been effected which would be reflected by personnel records in the health office, if one exists. Possibly even citizens in the area and those records would be at the local hospital.
This level of emission into the atmosphere cannot be tolerated.
