Where do the methanogens live? New insights into the origin of methane in the Condamine River alluvial aquifer

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dc.contributor.authorIverach, CPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBeckmann, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorManefield, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorKelly, BFJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-24T00:10:36Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-24T00:10:36Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2017-07-11en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-11-02en_AU
dc.description.abstractThere is considerable debate about the origin of methane (CH4) in aquifers surrounding coal seam and shale gas exploration and production. Numerous processes control the natural occurrence of CH4 in groundwater. To determine the origins of CH4 in an aquifer both the geochemical and microbial community need to be characterised, however this is rarely done. We use geochemical and microbiological data, along with measurements of CH4 isotopic composition (δ13C-CH4), to determine the processes acting upon CH4 in the Condamine River Alluvial Aquifer, a freshwater aquifer that directly overlies coal measures targeted for coal seam gas production in Australia. Groundwater samples for geochemical and microbiological analyses were collected from private irrigation boreholes in the Condamine Catchment. The groundwater was analysed for the major ions, water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O), the isotopic composition of dissolved organic carbon (δ13CDOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine abundances of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene targets and functional gene targets in the groundwater. Measurements of CH4 concentration and isotopic composition suggest that there is biogenic CH4 in the aquifer, however microbial community analysis indicates that there are no methanogenic archaea in the groundwater. In addition, geochemical data, particularly the isotopes of DIC and, as well as the concentration of SO42-, indicate limited potential for methanogenesis in situ. Microbial community analysis also showed that aerobic oxidation of CH4 is occurring in the alluvial aquifer despite the absence of a microbial pathway to produce the CH4. The combination of microbiological and geochemical indicators suggests that the most likely source of CH4, where it was present in the deeper freshwater aquifer, is the upward migration of CH4 from the underlying coal measures.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationIverach, C. P., Beckmann, S., Cendón, D. I., Manefield, M., & Kelly, B. F. J. (2017). Where do the methanogens live? New insights into the origin of methane in the Condamine River alluvial aquifer. Paper presented to the 2017 Biennial Australasian Groundwater Conference, UNSW Sydney, 11 - 13 July 2017. Retrieved from: http://agc-2017.p.agc2017.currinda.com/days/2017-07-11/abstract/60en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate13 July 2017en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename2017 Biennial Australasian Groundwater Conferenceen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSydney, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate11 July 2017en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://agc-2017.p.agc2017.currinda.com/days/2017-07-11/abstract/60en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12660en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherNational Centre for Groundwater Research And Trainingen_AU
dc.subjectMethanogenic bacteriaen_AU
dc.subjectMethaneen_AU
dc.subjectRiversen_AU
dc.subjectDataen_AU
dc.subjectGeochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectQueenslanden_AU
dc.subjectBacteriaen_AU
dc.titleWhere do the methanogens live? New insights into the origin of methane in the Condamine River alluvial aquiferen_AU
dc.typeConference Presentationen_AU
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