One of the prime arguments against hydraulic fracturing is the migration of methane into ground water during the drilling process. Methane in water was made famous during scenes in the film Gasland when a man was able to light his water on fire.

A new study, published in the Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists argues that oftentimes methane is in the well water before drilling begins, according to The Patriot-News.

Read it:

“The study found that 88 percent of the 67 water supply wells evaluated had some presence of thermogenic gas present before any Marcellus drilling occurred.

The study then tested the gas produced in the well bore of 234 wells during drilling as the drill bit sank deeper and deeper – to get a vertical stratigraphy of what types of gas are found where.

The study found that Marcellus type gas – older thermogenic gas associated with deeper geologic formations – was actually present above the Marcellus.”

» Via: The Patriot News › New study of gas drilling and ground water shows gas often in water before drilling begins