This video shows underground methane gas invading fine-grain sediment (shown in yellow) by creating a fracture, as predicted by Jain and Juanes' grain scale model. Blue circles represent pore spaces where the gas has invaded. The maroon lines indicate compressive forces between sediment grains. The video shows that the network of compressive forces changes drastically with the evolution of the fracture. The green lines indicate tension between grains, caused by capillary forces that hold the grains together. The network of tension forces also changes with time, as the gas invades the sediment.

Video: Ruben Juanes and Antone Jain, MIT

Read more at http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/methane-0902.html