Bacteria made quick work of the tons of methane that billowed into the Gulf of Mexico along with oil from the Deepwater Horizon blowout, clearing the natural gas from the waterway within months of its release, researchers reported Friday.
The federally funded field study, published online in the journal Science, offers peer-reviewed evidence that naturally occurring microbes in the Gulf devoured significant amounts of toxic chemicals in natural gas and oil spewing from the seafloor, which researchers had thought would persist in the region’s water chemistry for years.
“Within a matter of months, the bacteria completely removed that methane,”said microbiologist David Valentine at the University of California at Santa Barbara. “The bacteria kicked on more effectively than we expected,” he said.
Via Dan Sheehan
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,979 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The Department of the Interior has announced a new rule aiming to ensure that costs related to the decommissioning of offshore platforms are covered by the oil and gas industry,...
(Bloomberg) — For a company that made its name with frontier oil discoveries from Iran to Alaska, BP Plc is notably absent from today’s hottest new oil plays. The company’s...
Virginia-based energy company Dominion Energy has announced the launch of the first U.S.-built and Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, the Charybdis. A 472-foot vessel is being built at the...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,979 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
