Natural gas basins as a danger during earthquakes

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If you look at where the methane gas basins are, and where the earthquake centers could be, it is something to think about.

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Natural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0-20% higher hydrocarbons(primarily ethane). It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/naturalgas/

What is shale gas and why is it important?

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. The production of natural gas from shale formations has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the United States.

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Maps of methane basins in the USA:

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If either the Yellowstone super volcano (Caldera) or the Madrid Fault line is disrupted, these are the areas affected (notice the overlap of the initiation points and the gas basins): :

1. Volcanologists from the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey have predicted that the next major Yellowstone Super Volcano eruption would make Mt. St. Helens look like a mere geologic hiccup. The 1980 St. Helen’s eruption sent 1.25 cubic miles of ash into the air;

In comparison the next Yellowstone "event" could potentially produce approximately 500 times that output volume (or 625 cubic miles).

Crop failures resulting from the cataclysmic event could last for years as a consequence of that much particulate and sulfur dioxide content in the air.

2. Madrid fault line earthquake could disrupt the methane gas basins in the areas shown, and there could be fires associated with the methane.

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From 1959 earthquake in Yellowstone:

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Map of oil reserves in USA:

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If too much oil drilling is occurring in areas with deep methane basins, the drilling could disrupt the earth surrounding the methane, in a process calling fracturing,, and the methane could leak out.

Gas is flammable.

There could be fires all over, if disruption in the earth surface or deeper layers caused openings and let the gas out.

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This is just looking at the USA so far.

Look at the gas deposits around the world.

Imagine what would happen if earthquakes or other disasters caused methane to explode from underground basins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_gas_production_world.PNG

Map of world gas reserves:

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Map of natural gas production in cubic meters per year from CIA factbook figures accessed 30 March 2006. Grey means no data.

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Earthquake zones around the world:

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Gas Basins and Earthquake zones overlapped:

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Marianne’s Thought:

God put the oil and the gas in the ground for a reason.

Maybe they serve as a lubricant or other support for the earth’s crust.

Since God put these substances UNDER the ground, maybe it was meant that they stay there.

By drilling for these resources, we are destroying the earth’s crust.

We want prosperity and convenience.

We do not want to live naturally on the earth as it was created.

Harming the earth’s crust leaves us open to the consequences of the harm.

We have harmed creation.

Man needs to not only repent of his sins against God, and other men, but also repent of sins against creation itself.

Final note:  We may experience dangers from all this reckless activity. 

If so, there is only one place to hide, and that is in Jesus.  

If we do this, there is nothing to fear.

Material things will mean nothing.

We need to be honest, repent of our sins, and trust in Him for salvation and protection. 

Those who do not seek His face may suffer in the days ahead.