Methane Conversion May Reduce Risk.(Brief Article)

Microbiologists Derek Lovley and Robert Anderson of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have found that bacteria living just below the earth's surface can be coaxed to rapidly convert oil to methane gas in oil-rich soil. Their findings, which are reported in the April 13 issue of the journal Nature, could change the way the oil exploration industry operates. The research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Petroleum engineers often hit pockets of methane when exploring for oil. According to Lovley, specialized microorganisms that live deep in the