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<br />" <br /> <br />,.... <br />"'",.. <br />o <br />w <br /> <br />The Environmental Subcommittee tried to determine the effects of methane on the <br />environment. Their correspondence is attached in the Environmental Section (Appendix <br />D). The Environmental Subcommittee did nollocate much information on the effects <br />of methane on the environment. <br /> <br />Residents of the Pine River Subdivision were concerned about the effect of the <br />methane on the vegetation, as vegetation stress has been identified and confirmed in <br />the subdivision. To determine the effect of methane on the vegetation in the area, two <br />additional sources were utilized to evaluate this situation. Amoco sponsored a plant <br />physiologist to review.the subdivision; his reports states "it is my hypothesis that the <br />principal effect is simply due to soil oxygen depletion as .the process of oxidation <br />continues unabated given the plentiful food sources (methane) for these bacteria." This <br />report is enclosed in Appendix H. <br /> <br />The other source utilized for the plant stress evaluation was an expert in soil"fjas <br />measurement, Dr. Philip Bennett, from the University of Texas at Austin. Soil-gas <br />measurements recorded methane concentrations as high as 97% in the subdivision. <br />These meaSlJrementssupport the previous conclusion of oxygen depletion, and <br />resultant vegetative stress. <br /> <br />CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br />Following is a synopsis of the conclusions reached by the subcommittees: <br />- There are four separate, correlatable coal zones within the Fruitland Formation <br />in the Pine River Study area. <br />- Methane at the initial water well investigated is being sourced primarily from a <br />coal seam identified as part of the uppermost coal zone. <br />- There are no positively identified barriers to reservoir fluid flow in the area. <br />- A reservoir simulation model for the study area has been developed which <br />shows factors contributing to the level. of gas desorption include: <br />1. Local geological factors, <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />i; <br /> <br />:.; <br /> <br />7 <br />