System and method for methane biodegradation

A method for sustained aerobic methane biodegradation, comprising:

• identifying, at a methane source site, a measured methane flow rate;
• finding native methanotrophs at the methane source site;
• determining, at the methane source site, an initial methanotroph concentration of the native methanotrophs wherein the initial methanotroph concentration at the methane source site and at the measured methane flow rate is insufficient for sustained aerobic methane biodegradation at the methane source site;
• deriving supplemental methanotrophs from soil at the methane source site
• determining a final methanotroph concentration sufficient for sustained methane biodegradation at the measured methane flow rate at the methane source site;
• responsive to deriving supplemental methanotrophs and determining the final methanotroph concentration sufficient for sustained methane biodegradation, forming an inorganic matrix by mixing
• a moisture retaining material, selected from the group consisting of vermiculite, peat, perlite, and sawdust,
• a drainage component permeable to water selected from the group consisting of pumice, sand, perlite, and gravel, and
• the supplemental methanotrophs sufficient to increase the initial methanotroph concentration at the methane source site to equal or exceed the final methanotroph concentration;
• inoculating the matrix with a dose of soil from the methane source site wherein the dose of the soil is greater than 2.7% and less than 50% of the matrix by weight;
• and
• installing, at the methane source site, the inorganic matrix sufficient for sustained methane biodegradation for the measured methane flow rate at the methane source site.