Methane possibly cause of flames at Aurora well –geologist

An expert on Tuesday said that methane could have been the flammable gas that escaped from a well being dug in Dipaculao, Aurora.

According to Athena Imperial's "24 Oras" report on Tuesday, workers were digging a well when water burst out of their pipe, along with a release of pressure.

When locals lit the escaping gas, it burst into a flame 10 feet high.

Noel Lacadin, the chief geologist of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, believed that methane may have formed at the dig site. The gas came from decomposed materials.

"Ang Dipaculao sa Aurora siguro dating ano siguro swamp area. Mostly may mga vegetation yan, natabunan na... 'Yan ay nabulok... Na-decompose... Mayroong slow oxidation na tawag... Yan ay nagfo-form ng methane," said Lacadin.

(That area in Dipaculao, Aurora could have been a swamp. There is vegetation there which was already completely covered. It had decomposed. There is slow oxidation. This creates methane.)

Lacadin also advised that the methane be used to prevent a violent release of gas in the area.

"There will come a time na bumulwak ang methane kaya dapat gamitin para hindi violent ang pag-release ng gas na 'yan," said Lacadin.

(There will come a time that methane will jet out so we need to use it, which will prevent a violent release of gas.)

Meanwhile, the local government unit would rather prohibit entry to the area with methane gas to prevent a possible fire.

"To think that this is a rice field so puwedeng may mangyari na malawakang sunog. 'Yan ang worst case scenario naman, pero kung may ma-identify na specific na area na may emission na gas or methane gas, ma-identify siya at malagay na prohibited place," said Mercy Bata of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office in Casiguran, Aurora.

(It could cause large fires. That is the worst-case scenario. But if we identify these areas with methane gas, we will mark it off as a prohibited place.) — Consuelo Marquez/DVM, GMA News