Does methane automatically combust when it is exposed to oxygen or any other elements?

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Methane is a flammable gas and will burn in oxygen or even explode if the proportions are right.  However, it needs an activation energy to get it going.  A spark or a flame will do.  Once it has that activation energy it will produce water and CO₂.  I've been involved in large scale tests (32 foot diameter balloons) while in the military using methane and oxygen.  That is a lot of methane, believe me.  The balloons did not spontaneously explode.  We installed a detonator on the inside to do that when we wanted it to go off.