Researchers from the University of Cincinnati recently studied the sources of methane at three sites across the nation in order to better understand this greenhouse gas, which is much more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than is carbon dioxide.

The UC team, led by Amy Townsend-Small, assistant professor of geology, identified sources for methane in Carroll County, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, by means of an analysis technique that consists of measuring carbon and hydrogen stable isotopes (

isotopic composition

). This approach provides a signature indicating whether methane is coming from, say, natural gas extraction (fracking), organic/biologic decay, or the natural digestive processes of cattle.

Said Townsend-Small, This is an analysis technique that provides answers regarding key questions as to specific sources for methane emissions. With isotopic composition analysis, its possible to tell whether the source is fracking or biogenic processes (like bacterial decomposition in landfills or algae-filled water). Its a laborious technique to implement, but its use makes it possible to trace and attribute the source of methane production.

In findings to be

presented at the May 18-21 regional American Chemical Society Conference

held in Covington, Ky., Townsend-Small will present research results achieved with a team consisting of

Claire Botner

, recent UC graduate student; Paul Feezel of Carroll County Concerned Citizens; Don Blake, professor of chemistry, University of California-Irvine, and Josette Marrero, former UC-Irvine doctoral student.

As part of the

ACS program

, she will report on a 2012-15 study examining methane levels and origins of methane in groundwater in the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio:



MONITORING GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES NEAR OHIO FRACKING SITES

The

UC Groundwater Research of Ohio program

first launched in 2012 in Carroll County, Ohio, when there were only three fracking (hydraulic fracturing) wells in the county.

The goal of the research was to establish a baseline for methane levels and origins of methane in private wells and springs before, during and after the onset of fracking.

By the time the study was complete, there were 354 fracking wells in the county.

Results from this study, where 23 wells were tested three to four times each year and a total of 191 samples examined, found that methane levels in these groundwater wells came from decay of organic matter (decomposition of plants) biological processes occurring in subsurface coal formations.

In less than a handful of cases, the natural methane levels were relatively high (above 10 milligrams per liter). However, most of the wells carried low levels of methane.