Texas Water Well Spews Methane

A 1,149 foot deep water well in Redlands, Texas is spewing forth methane
gas.

www.lufkindailynews.com...

Evidently this began occuring the latter part of February, some residents were evacuated two weeks ago. The last report stated a 45 o/o methane concentrate. Hope they don't light a match!

Uhh . . . what?

Apparently, the Redland Water Supply board sends a field manager to check for gas every day. Nothing now, 45% methane gas at 400 psi the next day.
Also, they say that the gas might be leaking into the well from a pinhole crack in the cement walls, but if it's not that, then this could pose a major threat to other wells in the area.

Why do I get the feeling that this will all blow over and none of us will ever hear of this story again?

Methane is often found in association with gas and oil wells as well as coal beds (it can be a serious problem there), and Lufkin is in a region where there's a lot of these resources.

Sadly, this is a little bitty town in the middle of nowhere Eastern Texas. If it was happening here in Dallas, everyone would be on top of it like a dog on a biscuit, but out there in nowhereville they'll be in a "cover your job" mode and I suspect that any uproar is going to be local.

But keep your eye out for news.

Originally posted by Byrd
Methane is often found in association with gas and oil wells as well as coal beds

Natural gas is mostly methane.

The oil companies are working to get more gas out of the ground. Out here Halliburton and others do frac'ing in the ground and all kinds of stuff.

There is probably now a fissure allowing gas to get to the well.

[edit on 3/13/2007 by roadgravel]

Originally posted by Kanza
A 1,149 foot deep water well in Redlands, Texas is spewing forth methane
gas.

sounds like it's localized to that particular well

the landowner should somehow cap it, and store the gas
with an eye towards converting their water heaters & HVAC
systems to use that free source of fuel.
perhaps even having a natural gas/methane burning generator
to supply their own electric & 'selling' the excess to the electric utility
(if they elect to stay on-the-grid with them)

in old time jargon, that's turning a sows ear into a purse,

the 1960s show 'The Beverly Hillbillies' ran ito a similar upwelling
of gas & oil on their family acreage...
so deep pools or deposits of hydrocarbons reaching the surface
is not an uncommon thing, but is rare enough to become news

Unless the community has sold it's mineral rights, it could benefit from the gas. Thought the article said no wells within 5 miles. There will be now.

Near us in 2002 a small rig drilled into a gas pocket unexpectedly. Here is the result when the gas ignited. Hope people take care around that well.



One the fire was out, it spewed sand and water for most of the day until capped.