Theme Session 1
Microbial Methane Energy Resources
George W. Shurr, GeoShurr Resources, LLC
Fred J. Anderson, North Dakota Geological Survey
Microbial methane energy resources include anthropogenic sources such as waste digesters and landfills, ultra-shallow accumulations in glacial drift and bedrock, and shallow basin margin gas plays such as fractured shales, coal bed methane, and tight gas sands. Assessing and utilizing these diverse potential resources will require an understanding of microbiology and ecology, as well as the traditional geologic and hydrologic concepts. This theme session will draw on lab and field studies of both ancient and modern microbial methane accumulations to look for similarities and differences in these various biogenic systems.