Abstract: Natural gas dissolved in saline ground water can be recovered for use. The process includes the pumping of water production wells, separation of gas and water at the surface, gas compression, desalination of ground water, and injection of excess water into disposal wells. A definitive test of the process was completed on Jan. 9 and 10, 2013, at Gill Ranch Gas Field, California: volumes of recovered gas were equal to predictions based on methane solubility. Analyses of the gas showed that it was equal in heat value (about 975 BTU per cubic foot) to dry gas produced from the same field. Saline water recovered during the full scale test was returned to the same aquifer from which it was produced.

Abstract: Automated systems and methods of extracting gas from groundwater aquifers are provided.

Abstract: One undeveloped alternative fuel is methane dissolved in ground water. Equipment for extracting methane from ground water is readily available. This Application presents a process to produce and use dissolved natural gas in the United States. The process includes the use of production wells, pumps, gas/water separators, compressors, low pressure gathering lines, and water disposal wells. Dissolved methane is present in virtually every basin now known to produce oil and dry gas. The Great Valley of California alone contains undeveloped dissolved methane resources of about 1,200 trillion cubic feet (TCF). Dry gas production in 150 years was about 10 TCF. The first full scale test of the extraction process was completed on Jul. 7-8, 2010 in California. Laboratory analyses of the gas produced showed that it was equal in heat value (about 940 to 975 BTU per cubic foot) to dry gas produced from the same field.