Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5227

Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND MINING
Cover: Photograph of Book Cliffs in east-central Utah. Taken by B.J. Stolp.
Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and 

Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, 

Utah, 1995-2003

By B.J. Stolp, A.L. Burr, and K.K. Johnson

Prepared in cooperation with the

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND MINING

Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5227

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006

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iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Physical Setting.....................................................................................................................................2

Well-Field History and Development.................................................................................................2

Monitoring Program .............................................................................................................................2

Methane Gas Concentrations......................................................................................................................2

Summary..........................................................................................................................................................5

References Cited............................................................................................................................................5

Appendix........................................................................................................................................................17

Sample Collection...............................................................................................................................17

Analysis Procedures for the OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer...................................17

Analysis Procedures for the HNU 311 Portable Gas Chromatograph........................................17

Figures

Figure 1. Generalized area of coal-bed methane development, Carbon and Emery 

Counties, Utah, 1985-2003................................................................... 1

Figure 2. Number of coal-bed methane gas-production wells and annual methane-gas 

production from the Ferron coal trend, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1985-2003 .................................................................................... 2

Figure 3. Location of sites where samples were collected and analyzed for methane 

concentration in Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995–2003 ..................... 3

Figure 4. Number of methane-gas monitoring sites measured annually, Carbon and Emery 

Counties, Utah, 1995-2003................................................................... 4

Figure 5. Long-term trend at monitoring sites at which the highest concentrations of 

soil-gas methane were measured, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003 .................................................................................... 4

Tables

Table 1. Summary statistics of methane concentration for five areas of coal-bed 

production, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003.............................. 4

Table 2. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected adjacent to selected 

well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003 .............................. 6

Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to 

selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003 .................. 9

Table 4. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected at selected groundwater sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2002 ........................... 16
iv

CONVERSION FACTORS, HORIZONTAL DATUM, AND 

ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY UNITS

Multiply By To obtain

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American datum of 1983 (NAD 83). 

Methane gas concentration is reported in parts per million by volume (ppmv). As an example, 

an air sample with a methane concentration of 1,000 ppmv would contain 1,000 molecules of 

methane for every 1,000,000 molecules of air. 
Abstract

The release of methane gas from coal beds creates the 

potential for it to move into near-surface environments through 

natural and human-made pathways. To help ensure the safety 

of communities and determine the potential effects of development of coal-bed resources, methane gas concentrations in 

soils and ground water in Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

were monitored from 1995 to 2003. A total of 420 samples 

were collected, which contained an average methane concentration of 2,740 parts per million by volume (ppmv) and 

a median concentration of less than 10 ppmv. On the basis 

of spatial and temporal methane concentration data collected 

during the monitoring period, there does not appear to be an 

obvious, widespread, or consistent migration of methane gas 

to the near-surface environment.

Introduction

The release of methane gas from coal beds creates the 

potential for it to move into near-surface environments through 

natural and human-made pathways. Natural pathways include 

fractures through the rock layers and voids between the grains 

of rock. Human-made pathways can be created when different 

types of wells are drilled. Methane is a combustable gas and 

can catch on fire if airborne concentrations exceed 5 percent 

(Eltschlager and others, 2001, p. 34-37). To help ensure the 

safety of communities and determine the potential effects of 

development of coal-bed resources, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division 

of Oil, Gas, and Mining, cooperated in a program to monitor 

methane gas concentration in soils and ground water in areas 

of coal-bed methane production. Initial findings from the 

monitoring program are discussed in a fact sheet by Naftz and 

others (1998). 

Monitoring of methane gas in soils and ground water 

at selected locations in Carbon and Emery counties in Utah 

began in 1995 in response to commercial development of 

coal-bed methane resources from geologic formations that 

extend along the western edge of the San Rafael Swell in an 

area commonly referred to as the Ferron coal trend. The coal 

trend extends underneath the towns of Price, Huntington, 

Castle Dale, Ferron, and Emery (fig. 1). Methane is generated 

as a byproduct during formation of coal and is released as 

gas when ground water is pumped from geologic formations 

that contain coal beds. Boreholes are used to remove ground 

water and recover liberated methane. Substantial amounts of 

methane have been recovered from the Ferron trend coal beds 

since the early 1990s. 

Purpose and Scope

This report tabulates, summarizes, and interprets the 

results of methane monitoring of soils and ground water in 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, from 1995 to 2003. A 

description of collection and analytical procedures used for 

soil gas and ground water samples is presented in the appendix.

Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003

By B.J. Stolp, A.L. Burr, and K.K. Johnson

Figure 1. Generalized area of coal-bed methane development, 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1985-2003.

San Rafael Swell

CARBON COUNTY

Great

Salt

Lake

U T A H

Price

Huntington

Castle Dale

Ferron

Emery

Ferron coal

trend

Gas field

39°

30'

39°

111°30' 110°30'

0

0

10

10

20 MILES

20 KILOMETERS

Salt Lake City

SEVIER COUNTY

EMERY COUNTY

SANPETE COUNTY
Physical Setting

Coal originates as plant matter deposited in swamp-like 

environments that then decays as it is buried and compressed 

over geologic time. Methane from the Ferron coal trend is produced from coal beds and sandstone in the Ferron Sandstone 

Member of the Mancos Shale and in the Blackhawk Formation 

of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group. Depth to these 

formations from land surface ranges from 1,000 to 4,500 ft 

(Tabet and others, 1995; Stevens, 1993). Methane is recovered through boreholes that are drilled into the formations 

with a variety of different drilling, completion, and extraction 

technologies (Stevens, 1993). Gas is released when hydrostatic 

pressure created by overlying water is reduced. Hydrostatic 

pressure is reduced by pumping water out of the formations. 

Almost all of this water is currently (2006) disposed of by 

injecting it into geologic formations located thousands of feet 

below the Measverde Group.

Well-Field History and Development

Pilot development of coal-bed methane resources began 

near Price, Utah, in 1985. By 1991, methane production had 

spread south toward Orangeville and Ferron and as of November 2003, there were 772 coal-bed methane wells. Regulatory 

agencies continue (2006) to receive applications to drill additional coal-bed methane wells in the area, although at a much 

slower pace than in the past. The eventual number of wells 

will be determined primarily by the physical and economic 

limitations of the gas resource.

Peak production occurred in 2002 and was about 102 

billion cubic feet of methane for the year. Gas production 

from 1985 through 2003 is shown in decatherms in figure 2. 

Decatherm is the unit used in most natural gas billing and is 

a measure of the heat produced when methane is ignited. The 

conversion from volume of methane gas to decatherm is made 

with the assumption that the heat value of methane from the 

Ferron coal trend is 1,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) per 

cubic foot of methane. 

Monitoring Program

The monitoring described in this report began in 1995 

and lasted through 2003. The program focused on established 

production-well sites and methane-gas production fields near 

residential areas. A priority was to identify and quantify trends 

and establish baseline methane concentrations in the soil and 

(or) ground water for future comparison. A core of twenty 

perimeter sites was established around Price, Huntington, 

Orangeville, and Ferron (fig. 3). These sites were monitored 

annually to determine whether or not methane concentrations 

were increasing near populated areas. Additional sites were 

established to monitor expanding areas of production and 

newly drilled production wells. A total of 420 shallow (2- to 

4-ft depth) soil-gas and ground-water samples were collected 

from 174 soil and 15 ground-water sites (figs. 3 and 4). Summary statistics of methane concentrations for five areas of 

coal-bed production (fig. 3) are listed in table 1. Multiple samples were collected at 75 sites. Data describing site locations, 

sampling specifics, and methane concentrations are reported in 

tables 2-4, located at the back of this report. Sample collection 

and analysis procedures are described in the appendix, which 

is also located at the back of this report.

Methane Gas Concentrations

The average measured methane concentration for the 

monitoring period (1995-2003) was 2,740 parts per million 

by volume (ppmv); the median concentration was less than 10 

ppmv. For calculation of summary statistics, sample values 

below the minimum detection limit or greater than the maximum detection limit were assigned the value of the detection 

limit. Two hundred and ten samples (52 percent of the sample 

set) had concentrations that were less than the detection limit. 

Twenty samples (5 percent of the sample set) had concentrations greater than 10,000 ppmv. On the basis of spatial and 

temporal methane concentration data collected during the 

monitoring period, there does not appear to be an obvious, 

widespread, or consistent migration of methane gas to the 

near-surface environment.

Inside buildings, methane-gas levels greater than 10,000 

ppmv are potentially dangerous; in open air, methane levels above 50,000 ppmv can result in combustion of the air 

(Eltschlager and others, 2001, p. 34-37). At a concentration 

of less than 5,000 ppmv, methane poses no immediate threat 

(Eltschlager and others, 2001, p. 34-37). 

Summary statistics of methane concentrations for five 

areas of coal-bed production (fig. 3) are listed in table 1. None 

of the production areas had average concentrations that are 

considered to be dangerous (greater than 5,000 ppmv). The 

median concentration for all areas is less than the average 

value, indicating that most values in the sample set are less 

than that average value. Twenty samples from 11 sites had 

methane concentrations that exceeded 10,000 ppmv. Those 

Figure 2. Number of coal-bed methane gas-production wells 

and annual methane-gas production from the Ferron coal trend, 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1985-2003.

0

200 400 600 800 1,000 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

0

20406080100 GAS PRODUCTION,

YEAR-END WELL COUNT

IN MILLIONS OF DECATHERMS

Number of wells Methane-gas production

1,200 120

   Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Figure 3. Location of sites where samples were collected and analyzed for methane concentration 

in Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995–2003.

10

River

Price

Gordon Creek

Helper

Price

Creek Willow

Scofield

Reservoir

Electric

Lake

Wellington

Coal

Creek

Soldier Creek

Miller Creek

Price River

Desert Seep Wash

Desert

Lake

Desert Lake Wash

Elmo

Huntington

Huntington

Lake

Huntington

Creek

Ferron Creek

Cottonwood Creek

Castle Dale

Orangeville

Millsite

Reservoir

Ferron

33

10

6

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1980 and 1981

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 12

Pinnacle Peak

111°7'30" 110°37'30"

39°

45'

39°

00'

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

0 5 10 MILES

Soil-gas site where concentration exceeded

100,000 parts per million

Ground-water site

Perimeter soil-gas site

Other soil-gas site

EXPLANATION

Willow Creek area

Price/Helper area

South of Price

area

Huntington area

Orangeville/

Ferron

area

Methane Gas Concentrations   
sites are scattered across the entire area and do not indicate 

specific locations of high concentrations.

At 75 sites, soil-gas samples were collected multiple 

times during the monitoring period. These data show a general 

trend of decreasing methane concentration over time. At sites 

where a concentration of 10,000 ppmv or greater was measured at some time during the monitoring period, the most 

recent repeat measurements averaged 23 ppmv methane. 

Methane concentrations over time at sites with the highest 

concentrations (greater than 100,000 ppmv) are shown in 

figure 5. These high concentrations might be associated with 

disturbances to the geohydrologic conditions that occur during 

drilling of coal-bed gas wells or problems with well maintenance. High methane concentrations are commonly observed 

shortly after drilling. If wells are properly constructed and 

maintained, concentrations that result from drilling geneally 

decrease and remain low over time.

At 15 of the 75 sites where temporal data were collected, 

soil-gas methane concentrations were inconsistent. Variations 

on the order of 10 to 1,000 ppmv were measured from year 

to year and showed no consistent increasing or decreasing 

trends. Eight of these sites are located in the Orangeville/Ferron area. Changes of this type and magnitude, associated with 

this monitoring program, are likely a result of (1) intermittent 

Figure 4. Number of methane-gas monitoring sites measured 

annually, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003.

Table 1. Summary statistics of methane concentration for five areas of coal-bed production, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003

[ppmv, parts per million by volume; <, concentration is less than the minimum detection limit of the analytical equipment; >, concentration is greater than 

the minimum detection limit of the analytical equipment]

Area

Average

concentration

(ppmv)

Median

concentration

(ppmv)

Minimum

concentration

(ppmv)

Maximum

concentration

(ppmv)

Number 

of

samples

Willow Creek 800 <10 <10 6,390 15

Price/Helper 2,260 10 <1 >100,000 75

South of Price 1,750 <10 <1 >100,000 152

Huntington 15 4 <1 160 24

Orangeville/Ferron 4,920 <10 <1 >100,000 137 .

Figure 5. Long-term trend at monitoring sites at which the 

highest concentrations of soil-gas methane were measured, 

Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003. 

0

1020304050607080 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

NUMBER OF SITES MEASURED

74

46

37

53

43

57

62

18

30

199519961997199819992000200120022003

METHANE CONCENTRATION, IN PARTS PER MILLION BY VOLUME

Ferron MRC 27,

Orangeville/Ferron area

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Utah Power and Light 24-57,

Orangeville/Ferron area

Utah 36-3-4, South of Price

Helper Federal A-1, Price/Helper area

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

pumping at the methane-gas well prior to sampling; (2) variations in climatic conditions including temperature, barometric 

pressure, and soil moisture (Rose and others, 1979); and (3) 

inherent uncertainties associated with field collection and 

analysis of soil-gas samples (table 3).

Monitoring of methane concentration in ground water 

was limited. An initial inventory of coal-bed methane production areas in 1995 resulted in sample collection from 14 sites 

that included springs, drains, and ponds. The average methane 

concentration was 20 ppmv. Multiple samples were collected 

at a single spring from 2000 through 2002. Methane concen  Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
tration at that site decreased from 26,200 ppmv in 2000 to 160 

ppmv in 2002.

Summary

To help ensure the safety of communities and determine 

the potential effects of development of coal-bed resources, the 

U.S. Geological Survey and the Utah Department of Natural 

Resources, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, cooperated in 

a program to monitor methane concentrations in soils and 

ground water in areas of coal-bed methane production. The 

monitoring program began in 1995 and lasted through 2003. 

Commercial development of coal-bed methane resources 

began in the early 1990s from geologic formations within the 

Ferron coal trend. The monitoring program focused on established production-well sites and methane-gas production fields 

near residential areas. A core of twenty perimeter sites was 

established around Price, Huntington, Orangeville, and Ferron 

and monitored annually. Additional sites were established 

to monitor expanding areas of production and newly drilled 

production wells. A total of 420 shallow (2- to 4-ft depth) soilgas and ground-water samples were collected from 174 soil 

and 15 ground-water sites. Multiple samples were collected 

at 75 sites. The average measured methane concentration for 

the monitoring period was 2,740 parts per million by volume 

(ppmv); the median concentration was less than 10 ppmv. On 

the basis of spatial and temporal methane concentration data 

collected during the monitoring period, there does not appear 

to be an obvious, widespread, or consistent migration of methane gas to the near-surface environment. 

References Cited

Chafin, D.T., Swanson, D.H., and Grey, D.W., 1993, Methaneconcentration and methane-isotope data for ground water 

and soil gas in the Animas River Valley, Colorado and New 

Mexico, 1990-91: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 93-4007, 86 p.

Eltschlager, K.K., Hawkins, J.W., Ehler, W.C., and Baldassare, 

Fred, 2001, Technical measures for the investigation and 

mitigation of fugitive methane hazards in areas of coal mining: Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S. Department of the Interior, Office 

of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, 124 p., accessed May 

22, 2006, at http://www.osmre.gov/rep.htm

Naftz, D.L., Hadley, H.K., and Hunt, G.L., 1998, Determination of methane concentrations in shallow ground water and 

soil gas near Price, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 

FS-191-97, 4 p.

Rose, A.W., Hawkes, H.E., and Webb, J.S., 1979, Geochemistry in mineral exploration (2nd ed.): New York, Academic 

Press, 657 p.

Stevens, S.H., 1993, Exploration and development, Uinta 

Basin, Utah: Quarterly Review of Methane from Coal 

Seams Technology, v. 11, no. 1, p. 38-42.

Tabet, D.E., Hucka, B.P., Sommer, S.N., 1995, Maps of total 

Ferron coal, depth to top, and vitrinite reflectance for the 

Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale, central 

Utah: Utah Geological Survey Open-File Report 329, 3 pls., 

scale 1:250,000.

References Cited   
Table 2. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected more 

than 10 feet 

from well

Helper Federal A-3 394040 1104652 09/06/1995 <10 — Price/Helper

Washington Park 393625 1104834 09/07/1995 <10 — Price/Helper

City Park, Price 393640 1104744 09/07/1995 <10 — Price/Helper

River Gas Well 30-5-15 393455 1105105 09/08/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 24-16-18 393517 1105124 09/08/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 23-4-20 393549 1105314 09/08/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 24-2-15 393551 1105131 09/08/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 35-1-9 393415 1105233 09/12/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 27-9-30 393429 1105336 09/12/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 27-8-29 393450 1105344 09/12/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 23-14-21 393517 1105308 09/12/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 24-80 393040 1105203 09/13/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 14-64 393058 1105309 09/13/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 6-40 393254 1105027 09/13/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 18-69 393127 1105056 09/14/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 7-59 393155 1105032 09/14/1995 <10 — South of Price

River Gas Well 30-14-14 393424 1105105 09/14/1995 <10 — South of Price

Federal 16-15 394644 1104703 09/18/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Shimmin Trust 3 394703 1104622 09/18/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Jensen 7-15 394711 1104706 09/18/1995 120 — Willow Creek

Shimmin Trust 11-11 394751 1104624 09/18/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Jensen 11-15 near Highway 191 

(between mile 163 and164) 

394655 1104733 09/19/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Utah 9-16 394655 1104804 09/19/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Shimmin Trust 14-12 394734 1104506 09/19/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Shimmin Trust 1 394736 1104540 09/19/1995 2,840 — Willow Creek

Jensen 16-9 394740 1104804 09/19/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Jensen 11-10 394743 1104728 09/19/1995 2,420 — Willow Creek

Federal 6-8 394755 1104946 09/19/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Utah 25-7-6 393445 1105139 09/20/1995 <10 — South of Price

Federal 16-14 394645 1104547 09/20/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Shimmin Trust 2 394704 1104546 09/20/1995 6,390 — Willow Creek

Jenson 16-10 394732 1104646 09/20/1995 <10 — Willow Creek

Abandoned Gas Well 1 392910 1105411 09/21/1995 <10 — South of Price

Abandoned Gas Well 2 390659 1110557 10/24/1995 160 — Orangeville/Ferron

Abandoned well marker 392711 1105153 10/24/1995 <10 — South of Price

MRC 21 390046 1110715 10/25/1995 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Active gas well - Ferron 390350 1110733 10/25/1995 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Backyard 650 N 300 E 393643 1104809 09/09/1996 <10 — Price/Helper

Helper Federal B-1 393846 1104828 09/09/1996 <10 — Price/Helper

Ferron MRC 17 390126 1110757 09/10/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Table 2. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003

[Site name: Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining well designations or field notes. Location: d, degree; m, minute; s, second. Methane concentration: 

ppmv, parts per million by volume. Samples collected from 1995 through 2000 were analyzed by the OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer, which 

was considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 10 ppmv. Samples collected from 2001 through 2003 were analyzed by 

the HNU Systems Inc. Model 311 Portable Gas Chromatograph, which was considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 1 

ppmv. When no methane was detected at a sample site, a value of either less than 10 ppmv (<10) or less than 1 ppmv (<1) is reported. A dash (—) indicates 

no sample was collected. Area: Refers to areas delineated in figure 3]

   Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Table 2. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected more 

than 10 feet 

from well

Chandler Buzzard Bench Federal 3-24 391136 1110732 09/10/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Buzzard Bench Chandler Federal 6-3 391157 1110727 09/10/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah Federal A 26-2 391320 1110626 09/10/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

SWD-1 Injection Well 391436 1110535 09/10/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah Federal K 5-34 392219 1110320 09/12/1996 <10 — Huntington

River Gas 14-62 393133 1105304 09/12/1996 <10 — South of Price

Arcadia Telonis (D-2) Injection Well 393514 1105655 09/12/1996 <10 — South of Price

E.G. Telonis Etal #1 393529 1105549 09/12/1996 <10 — South of Price

Possibly Old CVA-12 site 393258 1104853 09/13/1996 <10 — South of Price

Utah 19-222 391448 110528 09/03/1998 50 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

Helper Federal B-5 394105 1104553 04/08/1997 <10 — Price/Helper

Utah Federal H 6-21 390621 1111103 04/09/1997 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah Federal M 6-25 392230 1110344 04/09/1997 <10 — Huntington

River Gas 30-78 NE4/NE4 393504 1105010 04/09/1997 <10 — South of Price

Helper State SWD-1 393800 1104722 08/31/1998 <10 — Price/Helper

Helper State A-5 393810 1104723 08/31/1998 <10 <10 Price/Helper

Helper State A-1 393825 1104725 08/31/1998 <10 — Price/Helper

Birch A-1 393800 1104956 09/01/1998 <10 — Price/Helper

Federal 35-5 391306 1110610 09/02/1998 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah 19-222 391448 1110528 09/03/1998 50 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

Utah 36-135 392852 1105122 09/14/1999 <10 — South of Price

Robertson 32-127 393411 1104959 09/15/1999 <10 — South of Price

Kakatsides 31-197 393412 1105710 09/15/1999 <10 — South of Price

Telonis 30-156 393501 1105701 09/15/1999 <10 — South of Price

Prettyman 11-114 393656 1105247 09/15/1999 <10 — South of Price

Woolstenhulme 5-266 393815 1104927 09/15/1999 <10 — Price/Helper

USA 30-289 392944 1105019 09/16/1999 <10 — South of Price

USA 20-287 393033 1104952 09/16/1999 <10 — South of Price

Helper State A-13 393719 1104650 09/17/1999 <10 — Price/Helper

USA 2 392936 1105028 09/18/2000 <10 — South of Price

Powell 30-173 392944 1105055 09/18/2000 <10 — South of Price

Ferron 1-22 390352 1110727 09/19/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Nelson 1 390611 1110816 09/19/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Scorpion 1-23 392448 1105229 09/19/2000 <10 — South of Price

USA 01-312 392756 1105135 09/19/2000 <10 — South of Price

Utah 17-101 393135 1104924 09/19/2000 <10 — South of Price

Utah Power and Light 24-51 391444 1110548 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah Power and Light 24-53 391507 1110559 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah U 2-49 391705 1110611 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Utah U 2-11 391731 1110644 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

Gardner Trust 16-121 392100 1110124 10/26/2001 <1 — Huntington

Utah BB 08-122 392206 1110251 10/26/2001 8 — Huntington

Huber-Shimmin Trust 2-11 394735 1104550 10/26/2001 99 — Willow Creek

Utah 17-370 392550 1105558 10/30/2001 4 — South of Price

Utah 5-343 392753 1105631 10/30/2001 2 — South of Price

Tables   
Table 2. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected more 

than 10 feet 

from well

William I 09-118 392140 1110142 09/11/2002 <1 — Huntington

Conover 14-171 392034 1110002 09/23/2003 — 2 Huntington

Utah Power and Light 06-104 392227 1110340 09/23/2003 — 16 Huntington

Utah Power and Light 06-102 392250 1110421 09/23/2003 — 9 Huntington

Utah T 36-100 392322 1110454 09/23/2003 — 160 Huntington

Utah 1 393441 1105129 09/23/2003 — <1 South of Price

Ferron Federal 4-36-18-7 391309 1110540 09/24/2003 — 21 Orangeville/Ferron

Utah 24-560 392516 1105822 09/24/2003 — 4 South of Price

PPCO 15-555 392614 1110033 10/01/2003 — 18 South of Price

Clawson Spring State H-2 392616 1105814 10/01/2003 — 45 South of Price

Utah 20-333 393043 1105604 10/01/2003 — 43 South of Price

Utah 2-404 393840 1105309 10/01/2003 — 40 Price/Helper

Utah 34-510 393922 1105346 10/01/2003 — 133 Price/Helper

Helper Federal E-6 394060 1104956 10/01/2003 — 100 Price/Helper

Blackhawk A-4 394116 1104806 10/01/2003 — 33 Price/Helper

 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Ferron MRC 22 390352 1110710 10/24/1995 32,900 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/02/1998 <10 —

09/19/2000 — 2,730

10/24/2001 8 —

09/16/2003 12 —

Ferron MRC 27 390406 1110723 10/25/1995 33,600 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/10/1996 <10 —

09/02/1998 >100,000 >100,000

09/14/1999 >100,000 77,500

09/19/2000 11,000 —

10/24/2001 92 1,830

09/16/2003 43 —

Fossil 1-4 390650 1110841 09/19/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/24/2001 2 —

09/10/2002 15 —

09/16/2003 1 —

Sorenson 1-2 390709 1110605 09/02/1998 5,470 2,740 Orangeville/Ferron

09/14/1999 20 <10

09/19/2000 100 —

10/24/2001 23 2

09/10/2002 221 —

09/16/2003 5 —

FL Energy Ralph’s 1-30A 390828 1110427 10/24/1995 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/02/1998 23,900 <10

09/14/1999 <10 —

FL Energy Ralph’s 2-30 390841 1110350 10/24/1995 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/02/1998 <10 —

Ferron Federal 7-12-19-7 391114 1110500 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/24/2001 5 —

09/10/2002 4 —

09/16/2003 1 —

Orangeville State 10-2-19-7 391148 1110609 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/24/2001 6 —

Chandler 4-1 391214 1110531 09/10/1996 20 — Orangeville/Ferron

04/09/1997 <10 —

Chandler Orangeville State 1- 36-18 391232 1110448 09/10/1996 40 — Orangeville/Ferron

04/09/1997 60 —

09/02/1998 <10 —

Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, 

Utah, 1995-2003

[Site name: Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining well designations or field notes. Location: d, degree; m, minute; s, second. Methane concentration:

ppmv, parts per million by volume. Samples collected from 1995 through 2000 were analyzed by the OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer, which 

was considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 10 ppmv. Samples collected from 2001 through 2003 were analyzed by 

the HNU Systems Inc. Model 311 Portable Gas Chromatograph, which was considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 1 

ppmv. When no methane was detected at a sample site, a value of either less than 10 ppmv (<10) or less than 1 ppmv (<1) is reported. Both analytical instruments were considered for this monitoring program to have a maximum detection limit of 100,000 ppmv. When analysis of a gas sample resulted in a value 

that exceeded 100,000 ppmv, the value is reported as greater than 100,000 (>100,000). A dash (—) indicates no sample was collected. Area: Refers to areas 

delineated in figure 3]

Tables   
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Chandler Orangeville State 1- 36-18—

Continued

09/14/1999 <10 —

09/21/2000 180 —

10/24/2001 2 —

09/10/2002 2 —

09/17/2003 <1 —

Ferron State 4-36-18-7 391302 1110540 09/22/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/24/2001 2 —

09/10/2002 3 —

Federal A 34-7 391304 1110707 09/02/1998 1,470 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/22/2000 10 —

10/25/2001 13 24

09/10/2002 10 —

Federal A 35-5 391305 1110645 09/02/1998 2,630 <10

09/14/1999 <10 —

Federal A 26-4 391326 1110613 09/22/2000 40 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/25/2001 385 24

09/10/2002 614 —

09/24/2003 226 —

Orangeville Unit Federal 10-21 391433 1110141 09/12/1996 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/21/2000 10 —

10/26/2001 2 —

10/14/2002 32 —

09/24/2003 <1 —

Farm Fence Near Orangeville 391446 1110404 09/21/2000 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/25/2001 2 —

09/10/2002 4 —

09/24/2003 4 —

Utah Power and Light 23-51 391443 1110547 09/03/1998 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/14/1999 40 <10

Federal C 23-8 391455 1110631 09/03/1998 20 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

10/25/2001 18 —

10/15/2002 <1 —

09/24/2003 — 19

Utah Power and Light 24-57 391456 1110533 09/02/1998 >100,000 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

09/14/1999 <10 —

09/21/2000 <10 —

10/25/2001 3 —

10/14/2002 4 —

09/24/2003 1 —

D and D Curtis Well 14-54 391535 1110554 09/14/1999 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/25/2001 103 —

10/14/2002 9 —

09/24/2003 — 2

10 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Utah Power and Light 14-55 391538 1110638 09/03/1998 <10 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/25/2001 1 —

L and M Curtis 15-67 391555 1110658 09/03/1998 60 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

09/21/2000 4,460 —

10/25/2001 11 11

09/10/2002 14 —

09/24/2003 — <1

USA 11-71 391632 1110559 10/25/2001 206 — Orangeville/Ferron

10/14/2002 21 —

09/24/2003 7 —

Grimes Wash Federal A-1 Sec10 391637 1110747 09/10/1996 17,600 — Orangeville/Ferron

4/09/1997 <10 —

Utah Federal Q 4-44 391643 1110814 10/25/2001 2,000 — Orangeville/Ferron

09/10/2002 <1 —

Utah 2-50 391711 1110625 09/03/1998 34,400 <10 Orangeville/Ferron

09/14/1999 16,800 <10

09/21/2000 <10 —

10/25/2001 2 —

10/14/2002 1 —

09/24/2003 — 6

Southwest of Huntington 391737 1110005 10/26/2001 2 — Huntington

10/14/2002 2 —

SWD 5 391930 1105918 09/11/2002 72 — Huntington

09/23/2003 — 5

Malone 14-131 392053 1105957 09/11/2002 15 — Huntington

09/23/2003 4 —

North of Huntington State Park 392117 1105712 09/19/2000 <10 — Huntington

10/26/2001 1 —

10/14/2002 <1 —

09/23/2003 — <1

L and M Lemmon 10-1 392119 1110022 09/03/1998 <10 — Huntington

09/19/2000 <10 —

10/26/2001 2 —

09/11/2002 4 —

09/23/2003 — <1

USA 1-265 392735 1105209 09/14/1999 <10 — South of Price

10/30/2001 4 —

Utah 36-137 392832 1105135 09/16/1999 <10 — South of Price

10/30/2001 9 —

Utah M-2 392856 1105336 09/21/1995 <10 — South of Price

10/30/2001 3 —

USA 30-290 392914 1105023 09/16/1999 <10 — South of Price

10/30/2001 7 —

Tables 11
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

USA 20-288 393011 1104949 09/16/1999 20 <10 South of Price

09/18/2000 <10 —

USA 19-222 393011 1105024 09/16/1999 <10 — South of Price

10/30/2001 10 —

Utah 13-67 393103 1105132 09/14/1995 20 — South of Price

04/10/1997 <10 —

Utah 17-103 393058 1104947 09/11/1996 <10 — South of Price

09/16/1999 <10 —

Utah 13-66 393135 1105205 09/13/1995 4,850 — South of Price

10/26/1995 <10 —

09/11/1996 <10 —

04/10/1997 <10 —

10/16/2002 3 —

09/22/2003 5 —

Utah 12-15-37 393151 1105131 09/14/1995 260 — South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

04/10/1997 <10 —

10/30/2001 4 —

Utah 11-52 393154 1105234 09/14/1995 220 — South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

04/10/1997 <10 —

09/04/1998 <10 —

09/16/1999 50 <10

Utah 8-100 393156 1104015 09/04/1998 <10 — South of Price

09/16/1999 <10 —

Utah 8-97 393218 1104913 09/14/1995 <10 — South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

04/10/1997 <10 —

09/04/1998 <10 —

09/16/1999 <10 —

Utah 7-57 393220 1105100 09/14/1995 90 — South of Price

09/4/1998 <10 —

Utah 9-413 393230 1104842 09/18/2000 5,880 — South of Price

10/30/2001 388 —

10/15/2002 174 —

09/22/2003 4 —

Utah 11-51 393223 1105302 09/13/1995 <10 — South of Price

10/29/2001 1 —

Utah 1-44 393240 1105202 09/13/1995 80 — South of Price

04/10/1997 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

09/16/1999 <10 —

Utah 4-129 393250 1104849 09/13/1996 <10 — South of Price

04/08/1997 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

12 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Utah 4-129 09/15/1999 <10 —

Utah 6-39 393322 1105104 09/13/1995 4,850 — South of Price

10/26/1995 <10 —

09/11/1996 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

10/16/2002 3 —

09/22/2003 1 —

Utah 2-46 393317 1105225 09/14/1995 100 — South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

09/16/1999 <10 —

Utah 5-94 393319 1104957 09/03/1998 <10 — South of Price

09/15/1999 <10 —

Utah 36-3-4 393410 1105154 10/25/1995 >100,000 62,400 South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

04/10/1997 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

10/29/2001 19 —

10/16/2002 11 —

09/22/2003 4 —

Bawden #1 09/20/2000 <10 — South of Price

10/29/2001 3 —

09/09/2002 2 —

09/25/2003 1 —

Utah 1 393510 1104951 09/20/2000 <10 — South of Price

10/29/2001 1 —

09/09/2002 2 —

Utah 19-14-12 393526 1105052 09/08/1995 <10 — South of Price

09/01/1998 <10 —

09/15/1999 <10 —

09/20/2000 <10 —

10/29/2001 1 —

09/09/2002 4 —

09/23/2003 — 3

Utah 19-171 393522 1105705 04/08/1997 <10 — South of Price

09/15/1999 <10 —

Utah 19-77 393545 1105104 09/11/1996 <10 — South of Price

09/20/2000 <10 —

Utah 22-76 393550 1105343 09/12/1995 660 — South of Price

09/11/1996 <10 —

09/03/1998 <10 —

Utah 18-93 393614 1105106 09/20/2000 12,400 — South of Price

10/29/2001 6 —

09/09/2002 465 —

09/23/2003 2 —

Tables 13
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Utah 13-92 393616 1105127 09/15/1999 66,500 2,370 South of Price

09/20/2000 150 —

10/29/2001 653 —

09/09/2002 9 —

09/23/2003 2 —

USA 14-122 393636 1105304 09/01/1998 980 360 South of Price

09/20/2000 1,160 —

10/29/2001 12 —

City Ball Field 393657 1104740 09/07/1995 <10 — Price/Helper

09/13/1996 <10 —

Helper State A-14 393715 1104623 09/17/1999 <10 —

09/20/2000 <10 —

10/29/2001 <1 —

09/09/2002 <1 —

09/22/2003 — <1

Helper State A-12 393716 1104735 09/01/1998 100 10 Price/Helper

09/13/1999 <10 —

Helper State B-2 393726 1104806 09/01/1998 <10 — Price/Helper

09/17/1999 <10 —

09/20/2000 160 —

10/29/2001 1 —

09/09/2002 1 —

09/22/2003 — 1

Helper State A-9 393742 1104731 08/31/1998 990 — Price/Helper

09/01/1998 100 —

09/13/1999 <10 —

10/16/2002 11 —

09/22/2003 4 —

Helper State B-1 393733 1104809 09/01/1998 <10 — Price/Helper

09/17/1999 30 <10

Harmond A-1 393733 1105019 09/17/1999 <10 — Price/Helper

09/20/2000 <10 —

Helper Federal F-4 393736 1104843 09/01/1998 60 <10 Price/Helper

Helper Federal F-4 393736 1104843 09/13/1999 <10 — Price/Helper

Birch A-2 393746 1104957 09/01/1998 17,000 10 Price/Helper

09/14/1999 3,670 <10

09/17/1999 <10 —

09/20/2000 <10 —

10/29/2001 411 —

10/16/2002 998 —

09/25/2003 6 —

Helper Federal D-1 394016 1104601 09/09/1996 <10 — Price/Helper

04/08/1997 <10 —

08/31/1998 6,590 <10

09/13/1999 <10 —

14 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Table 3. Soil-gas methane concentration in multiple samples collected adjacent to selected well sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2003—Continued

Site name

Location

Sample 

date

Methane concentration

(ppmv)

Area

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Sample 

collected 

within 

10 feet 

of well

Sample 

collected 

more than 

10 feet 

from well

Helper Federal A-1 394044 1104632 09/20/1995 38,400 — Price/Helper

09/13/1996 >100,000 —

04/08/1997 <10 —

08/31/1998 100 <10

09/13/1999 <10 —

09/20/2000 <10 —

10/29/2001 6 —

09/09/2002 7 —

09/25/2003 — 9

Helper Federal A-2 394038 1104724 08/31/1998 <10 <10 Price/Helper

09/13/1999 <10 —

Helper Federal C-1 394058 1104655 08/31/1998 110 — Price/Helper

09/13/1999 <10 <10

Tables 15
16 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003

Table 4. Soil-gas methane concentration in samples collected at selected ground-water sites, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 

1995-2002

[Site name: Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining designations or field notes. Location: d, degree; m, minute; s, second. Methane concentration: ppmv, 

parts per million by volume. Samples collected from 1995 through 2000 were analyzed by the OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer, which was 

considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 10 ppmv. Samples collected from 2001 and 2002 were analyzed by the HNU 

Systems Inc. Model 311 Portable Gas Chromatograph, which was considered for this monitoring program to have a minimum detection limit of 1 ppmv. 

When no methane was detected at a sample site, a value of less than 10 ppmv (<10) is reported]

Site name

Location

Sample date

Methane 

concentration 

(ppmv)

Latitude

(ddmmss)

Longitude

(dddmmss)

Canyon above Standardville (by sheep pen) spring discharge from cliff face 394120 1105301 09/07/1995 <10

Canyon above Standardville Finkbinder Spring 394116 1105405 09/07/1995 <10

Covered Old Mine entrance just North of Kenilworth 394115 1105404 09/07/1995 <10

Golf Course Spring in the Pond 393837 1105149 09/12/1995 <10

Anadarko Office “CPF” 394747 1104609 09/18/1995 <10

Spring near Box Spring (NW) in Section 1- Matts Summit Quad 394823 1105227 09/19/1995 <10

Shimmin Trust 14-12 (Water sample from lot) 394732 1104511 09/19/1995 <10

Clawson Spring - Poison Spring Quad 392924 1105702 09/21/1995 30

Spring on east side of Kyune Quad Block 35 394908 1105247 09/21/1995 <10

Spring-fed pond by Desert Lake (Elmo Area) 392202 1104330 10/23/1995 130

Irrigation drain 392332 1104625 10/23/1995 <10

Irrigation drain (shallow ground water) 392340 1104622 10/23/1995 <10

Spigot at spring/seep source 391257 1104053 10/23/1995 <10

Staker Spring 391550 1104435 10/26/1995 <10

Unnamed spring 393324 1110022 09/18/2000 26,200

10/30/2001 560

10/14/2002 160
Appendix

This section describes the collection and analysis procedures used for soil-gas and ground-water samples collected 

during the 1995-2003 monitoring period. Samples were 

analyzed for methane using two analytical instruments: the 

(1) OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer and (2) HNU 

311 Portable Gas Chromatograph. Sample-collection techniques were the same for both analytical instruments. The 

desciptions are detailed enough so that any future monitoring 

can be designed to be comparable to the monitoring program 

described in this report.

Sample Collection

Gas samples were extracted from the soil by hand-pounding a perforated steel tube into the ground. The tube has a 

3/8-in. outside diameter (OD) and is 4 ft long; perforations are 

miscellaneous 3/16-in. holes drilled in the bottom 1 ft of the 

tube. The tip of the steel tube is driven to a depth of 2 to 4 ft 

below land surface. Once the tube is in the ground, the void 

(annular) space between the tubing and the soil at land surface 

is sealed by wiggling the tube until fine-grained material 

fills in the void space. About 0.75 liter (L) of water is poured 

around the probe to create the seal. At some locations, the 

ground is hard and the task of sealing the interface is difficult. 

If a good seal is not obtained, a notation is recorded on the 

field form. A bad seal could result in an incorrect measurement of soil gas as a result of contamination of ambient air 

from above ground getting pulled into the subsurface along the 

annular space.

In ground water, methane concentration was measured 

by analyzing the headspace gas in a vial (bottle) of sample 

water. Two or three vials are gently rinsed, filled with sample 

water, and sealed with septum caps. The samples are visually 

inspected to ensure that there are no air bubbles in the bottle. 

Fifty milliliters (ml) of ambient air are injected through the 

septum into each bottle with a glass syringe. A second needle 

(without an attached syringe) also is inserted through the 

septum to allow displaced water to flow out of the bottle. Once 

the headspace is created, the needle and syringe are removed, 

and the vials are set aside for 20 minutes to allow the headspace to equilibrate with the dissolved methane in the water. 

After that time, a known volume of air is removed from the 

headspace through the septum with a glass syringe. The withdrawn air is then injected into the analysis equipment.

Analysis Procedures for the OVA 128 Century 

Organic Vapor Analyzer

The OVA 128 Century Organic Vapor Analyzer is 

equipped with a gas chromatograph column to separate methane from other hydrocarbon gases. The OVA 128 uses a hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID). This type of detector is 

a carbon-molecule counter. Gas samples are injected directly 

into the OVA 128 with a syringe. The OVA 128 startup procedure is described in the instruction manual. The OVA 128 is 

a delicate instrument and is transported in the cab of the field 

vehicle and disconnected from all external gas-supply lines 

between site visits. The OVA 128 is calibrated once a week 

during field-data collection and checked daily. Calibration is 

done by using a 95 parts per million by volume (ppmv) methane-to-air standard. Instrument responses to known methane 

amounts are compiled in a calibration plot that relates a unitless peak height to the mass of methane in a sample volume 

of soil gas. The calibration process is discussed in detail by 

Chafin and others (1993) and summarized in Naftz and others 

(1998).

Soil gas is collected by means of a small vacuum pump 

hooked to a short flexible hose that is attached to the top of a 

perforated steel tube that has been driven into the ground (see 

“Sample collection” section of the appendix). The pump is run 

for 2 minutes to purge the tube and hose. A known gas-sample 

volume is withdrawn from an inline-septum-sample port with 

a glass syringe and injected into the OVA 128. A unitless 

peak-height response is recorded. Peak height is converted to 

concentration with the calibration curve, as explained in Chafin and others (1993) and Naftz and others (1998). For ground 

water, the dissolved gas is separated from the water sample 

by using a gas bottle sealed with a septum cap (see “Sample 

collection” section of appendix). A known gas-sample volume 

is withdrawn from the sample-bottle headspace through the 

septum with a glass syringe and injected into the OVA 128. As 

with soil gas, a unitless peak height is recorded and converted 

to a methane concentration. 

Analysis Procedures for the HNU 311 Portable 

Gas Chromatograph

The HNU 311 Portable Gas Chromatograph (GC) used 

for the monitoring program was equipped with a packed 

column, an FID, and a 1-cubic-centimeter (cm3) sample loop. 

Control of the HNU 311 is automated and the parameters are 

set on a computer with Peakworks software. Communication 

to the HNU 311 is made by using an RS 232 cable connected 

to PORT 1. Setup communications on the PC are as follows: 

MY COMPUTER  CONTROL PANEL  SYSTEM DEVICE MANAGER 

 PORTS  COM1 PORT SETTINGS  bits per second = 9,600

Once the communications port has been set up, the gas chromatograph parameters must be adjusted. From the menu bar, 

select Method. From the Method drop-down menu, select the 

Edit dialog box and set the following parameters:

Parameter Setting

INJ/DET Temp 110

Oven Temp 50

Analysis Time 1:30

Appendix 17
1

Sample Time 2:00

Inject Time 0:15

For the remaining parameters, use the default setting. After 

exiting the dialog box, save the job file using the File drop 

down menu. Every time a dialog box is exited, save the job 

file.

From the menu bar, select Method. From the Method

drop-down menu, select the Detector A dialog box, turn on 

the detector, and set the following parameters:

Parameter Setting

Length 0:30

Segment Width 10

Units PPM

Range 100

For the remaining parameters, use the default setting.

Continuing from the Method drop-down menu, select the 

Detector B dialog box and turn off the detector.

From the menu bar, select Method. From the Method

drop-down menu, select the Components table, select the 

Edit dialog box, toggle on, and set the following parameters:

Parameter Setting

Name Methane

Peak RT 0:39

Window 0:05

For the remaining parameters, use the default setting.

Continuing from the Method drop-down menu, select the 

Standards table and highlight the Methane record. Select the 

Edit dialog box and set the following parameter:

Parameter Setting

Stand. 0 29.78

Now, from the Options drop-down menu, select the Preferences dialog box and set the following parameter:

Parameter Setting

Port COM 1:

Remember to save the job file using the File drop down 

menu.

If the HNU 311 starts to beep and the beeping cannot be 

stopped, the power must be manually cycled. This is a known 

HNU 311 bug. Follow the steps below:

Remove the HNU 311 from case.

Disconnect ground cable.

On left side top, slide out first circuit board and push 

it back in. This power cycles the board and should 

stop the beeping.

1

This is the time that the HNU 311 pumps in a sample, maximum flow rate 

is 250-300 cubic centimeters per minute (cm3/min) (p. 3-9 in the HNU 311 

instruction manual). Sample time needs to be long enough to ensure that three 

sample volumes have been pumped through the sample rod and connecting 

plumbing.

2

This value needs to match the methane concentration of the gas mixture 

used for calibration of the gas chromatograph.

In the field, the HNU 311 is calibrated each day prior 

to any sample collection and intermittently throughout the 

day depending on drift, response, and circumstances. If the 

standard is different from that used during initial setup, the 

concentration is adjusted with Peakworks. The HNU 311 is a 

delicate instrument and is transported in the cab of the field 

vehicle and disconnected from all external gas-supply lines 

between site visits. The oven is turned off between sites, but a 

small amount of nitrogen (from the internal tank) is kept flowing through the column to cool it down and prevent ambient 

air from diffusing into the column. The HNU 311 is powered by a gas generator with a rating of at least 2,000 watts. 

Ultra-pure-grade nitrogen is the carrier gas, and hydrogen gas 

is used for the FID. Standard-size cylinders containing each 

of these gases are transported to the field to refill the smaller 

internal HNU 311 gas bottles (as described in the instruction 

manual for HNU 311).

Calibration gas enters the instrument at the inlet port 

labeled “CAL GAS IN” through a short tube hooked directly 

to the calibration gas pressure tank. Soil-gas samples are inlet 

to the HNU 311 at the port labeled “SAMPLE PUMP IN” 

by using a 30-ft length of 1/8-in. OD gas-impermeable nylon 

tubing attached to the top of a perforated steel tube that has 

been driven into the ground (see “Sample collection” section 

of the appendix). The HNU 311 has an internal pump that 

pulls a sample in through the tubing. A small air filter (or 

piece of foam) is inserted in the line between the steel tube 

and the 1/8-in. nylon tubing to prevent dust and other detritus 

from being sucked into the HNU 311. Flow rate of the internal 

pump is 250-300 cm3/minute at the inlet (p. 3-9 of the instruction manual) and the tube is pumped for 2 minutes to ensure 

that air in the tube is from the surrounding soil and that there 

is no residual methane in the steel tube and line from previous 

samples or ambient air. The gas volumes in the steel and connecting tubing are:

Volume is calculated as Pi*radius2*length. Based on 

outside diameter, the steel tubing volume is: 

(0.375 in*2.54 cm/in*0.5)2 * 3.142 = 0.713 cm2 * 4 

ft * 30.48 cm/ft = 87 cm3.

Based on outside diameter, the connecting tubing 

volume is: 

(0.125 in*2.54 cm/in*0.5)2 * 3.142 = 0.079 cm2 * 30 

ft * 30.48 cm/ft = 72 cm3. 

Consecutive readings are made at a site until there is 

a discrepancy of less than 10 percent between readings. 

Normally, this requires three to six measurements. The last 

measurement is reported as the methane soil-gas concentration 

for the site. Local ambient-air methane measurements were 

obtained after the analysis of soil gas. 

For ground water, the dissolved gas is separated from the 

water sample by using a gas bottle capped with septum (see 

“Sample collection” section of the appendix). A known gassample volume is withdrawn from the sample-bottle headspace 

18  Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
through the septum with a glass syringe and injected into the 

HNU 311 at the injection port (fig. 3.1 of the instruction man-

ual). When samples are manually injected rather than pumped 

(as is the situation for soil-gas samples), operation of the HNU 

311 must be modified with the Peakworks software. From 

the menu bar, select Method. From the Method drop-down 

menu, select the Edit dialog box and toggle on Syringe Inj. 

Appendix 19
20 Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003
Stolp and others—Methane Gas Concentration in Soils and Ground Water, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 1995-2003—SIR 2006-5227