Biogeochemical constraints on the origin of methane in an alluvial aquifer: evidence for the upward migration of methane from underlying coal measures

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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.accessioned2021-12-06T03:39:03Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-06T03:39:03Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2017-01-17en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-10-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractGeochemical and microbiological indicators of methane (CH4) production, oxidation and migration processes in groundwater are important to understand when attributing sources of gas. The processes controlling the natural occurrence of CH4 in groundwater must be understood, especially when considering the potential impacts of the global expansion of coal seam gas (CSG) production on groundwater quality and quantity. We use geochemical and microbiological data, along with measurements of CH4 isotopic composition (δ13C-CH4), to determine the processes acting upon CH4 in a freshwater alluvial aquifer that directly overlies coal measures targeted for CSG production in Australia. Measurements of CH4 indicate that there is biogenic CH4 in the aquifer; however, microbial data indicate that there are no methanogenic archaea in the groundwater. In addition, geochemical data, particularly the isotopes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), as well as the concentration of SO42−, indicate limited potential for methanogenesis in situ. Microbial community analysis also shows that aerobic oxidation of CH4 occurs in the alluvial aquifer. The combination of microbiological and geochemical indicators suggests that the most likely source of CH4, where it was present in the freshwater aquifer, is the upward migration of CH4 from the underlying coal measures. © Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (funded by the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission).en_AU
dc.identifier.citationIverach, C. P., Beckmann, S., Cendón, D. I., Manefield, M., & Kelly, B. F. J. (2017). Biogeochemical constraints on the origin of methane in an alluvial aquifer: evidence for the upward migration of methane from underlying coal measures. Biogeosciences, 14(1), 215-228. doi:10.5194/bg-14-215-2017en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1726-4189en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleBiogeosciencesen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination215-228en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-215-2017en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12354en_AU
dc.identifier.volume14en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherEuropean Geosciences Unionen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectCoalen_AU
dc.subjectGeochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectDataen_AU
dc.subjectMiningen_AU
dc.subjectFresh wateren_AU
dc.titleBiogeochemical constraints on the origin of methane in an alluvial aquifer: evidence for the upward migration of methane from underlying coal measuresen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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