Upstate NY Man Finds Flammable Water from Gas Drilling

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In summary: Gas problem In summary, a man in upstate NY claims that gas drilling near his home caused gas to leak into his water supply, resulting in flammable water coming out of his faucet. Despite skepticism about the dilution of gas in water, the man demonstrated the effect in a YouTube video. It is possible that the gas is not properly mixed with air like in a bunsen burner, and there may also be odorless gas present. The cause of this phenomenon is still unclear.
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I just read a news article about a man in upstate NY who claims that gas drilling near his home caused gas to leak into his water supply and out of his faucet. He demonstrated this by holding a lighter near his faucet, which causes sparks to flame up.

Now, I took chemistry, and know how a bunsen burner works, but shouldn't the gas coming through his faucet be too dilute to cause flames? A bunsen burner has nothing but methane and a odor causing gas going through it. But a faucet, from which mostly water comes out, shouldn't cause a similar effect, since the gas is diluted in the water.

I an obviously wrong, since the man demonstrated this effect in a youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEtgvwllNpg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param [Broken] name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEtgvwllNpg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
but I don't understand why. Please explain to me how this can happen.

The article: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/01/02/2010-01-02_upstate_new_york_man_finds_man_blames_gas_drilling_for_flammable_water_.html" [Broken]
 
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Methane isn't very soluble in water, so he would have bubbles of gas coming out.
Since it isn't mixed with air like in a bunsen burner you don't get the intense hot blue flame.
 
  • #3
There may also be odorless gas comming up from the drain. Who knows what he has down there.
 
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Satan
 

What is the cause of flammable water in Upstate NY?

The flammable water in Upstate NY is caused by natural gas drilling, specifically a process called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking". This involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals into the ground to extract natural gas from shale rock formations.

Is the flammable water harmful to human health?

The flammable water itself is not harmful to human health. However, the presence of natural gas and other chemicals in the water can be dangerous. Inhaling natural gas can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea, and long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory and neurological issues.

How does the flammable water affect the environment?

The flammable water can have negative impacts on the environment. When natural gas and other chemicals seep into the water supply, it can contaminate drinking water sources for humans and wildlife. It can also harm aquatic ecosystems and affect the quality of soil and vegetation in the surrounding areas.

What are the potential solutions to address this issue?

To prevent flammable water from occurring, regulations and safety measures must be put in place during the fracking process. This includes proper storage and disposal of chemicals, monitoring of well integrity, and protecting water sources. Alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy, can also reduce the need for natural gas drilling.

Is there a way to safely extract natural gas without causing flammable water?

There is ongoing research and development into alternative methods of natural gas extraction that may be safer and more environmentally-friendly. This includes using non-toxic fracking fluids, implementing stricter regulations, and improving well construction techniques. However, these methods are still in the early stages and may not be widely adopted yet.

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