The evaluation of the effects on health and environment posed by the gaseous hydrocarbons from geothermal waters

Our country has significant geothermal resources, which are located mainly in the western
area. The composition of geothermal water consists of solutes in the water, minerals and gases
which can form complex natural solutions where can be found separated substances,
dissociated and gases in unsolved phases of various concentrations, chemical combinations
and physical-chemical states of great diversity.
Among the dissolved gases in the geothermal waters significant quantities of hydrocarbons in
gaseous state can be found, non-dissolved in water, the most representative being the
methane gas. The purpose of this study was to determine the hydrocarbons dissolved and
non-dissolved in some geothermal waters, involving various physicochemical analysis
methods (gas phase chromatography and detection using electrochemical sensors).
Following the analysis performed to a number of geothermal water samples the high
concentration of gaseous hydrocarbons was highlighted, mainly methane (over 60 % volume)
in the geothermal water drill. The effects of uncontrolled methane leak in the atmosphere can
have serious consequences due to the explosion hazard posed by it and can represent also
an important factor in global warming, depending of the amount discharged.