› › Assessment Of The Environmental Impacts Of Coalbed Methane Development In The Powder River Basin Use Of Coalbead Methane Produced Water For Cropland Irrigation

Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Coalbed Methane Development in the Powder River Basin - Use of Coalbead Methane Produced Water for Cropland Irrigation

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Page : pages

File Size : 25,73 MB

Release : 2009

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Water quality is a major concern with regard to development of coalbed methane (CBM) in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Large quantities of water are being produced and discharged as a by-product in the process of releasing natural gas from coal. Current practices of discharging large volumes of water into drainage channels or using it to irrigate cropland areas has the potential to elevate salinity and sodicity in soils. Elevated salinity affects the ability of plants to uptake water to facilitate biochemical processes such as photosynthesis and plant growth. Elevated sodicity in irrigation water adversely affects soil structure necessary for water infiltration, nutrient supply, and aeration. Salinity and sodicity concentrations are important in that a sodic soil can maintain its structure if the salinity level is maintained above the threshold electrolyte concentration. In this study, cropland soil and CBM water were treated with gypsum and sulfur. Changes in soil chemistry among different treatments were monitored using a split plot experiment. The CBM water used for irrigation had an EC of 1380 [mu]S cm−1 and SAR of 24.3 mmol12 L−12. Baseline and post treatment soil samples were collected to a depth of 60 cm within each study plot, analyzed, and characterized for chemical parameters. Comparisons between Spring 2004 and Fall 2004 soil chemistry data after one irrigation season (using the equivalent of 1 month of irrigation water or ≈12 inches) indicated that irrigating with Piney Creek water or a 50:50 blend of Piney Creek water and CBM water did not cause SAR values to increase. A combination of using a gypsum amendment to the soil along with a gypsum injection and sulfur burner treatment to the irrigation water resulted in the lowest SAR value in the first soil horizon among treatments irrigated solely with CBM produced water. The SAR value resulting from this combination treatment was 53% lower than using CBM water with no amendments to soil or water. Soil amendments to cores in the laboratory did not increase soil hydraulic conductivity when CBM water was applied.



Assessments of Environmental Impacts and Beneficial Use of Coalbed Methane Produced Water in the Powder River Basin

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Page : pages

File Size : 17,41 MB

Release : 2009

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Impact on water quality and the beneficial use of the coal bed methane (CBM) produced water are imminent questions to be answered due to the rapidly growing CBM exploration in the Powder River Basin (PRB). The practice of discharging large volumes of water into drainage channels or using it to irrigate rangeland areas has the potential of causing serious problems. The elevated salinity and sodicity in the CBM water may be detrimental to soils, plants and the associated microbial communities. There are limited studies on CBM water characterization; however, a comprehensive understanding of CBM water influence on the local ecosystem is lacking. It is very important that the water applied to soils meets the favorable combination of salinity and sodicity that will allow the plants to grow at good production levels and that will maintain the structure of the soils. The purpose of this study was to access various CBM water treatment technologies and the influence of the treated water on local biogeochemical settings in order to evaluate and identify the proper technologies to treat the CBM produced water from CBM operations, and use it in an environmentally safe manner. Unfortunately, a suitable field site was not identified and the funds for this effort were moved to a different project.



Management and Effects of Coalbed Methane Produced Water in the Western United States

Author : National Research Council

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 238 pages

File Size : 13,18 MB

Release : 2010-11-15

Category : Science

ISBN : 0309154324

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Book Description

In some coalbeds, naturally occurring water pressure holds methane-the main component of natural gas-fixed to coal surfaces and within the coal. In a coalbed methane (CBM) well, pumping water from the coalbeds lowers this pressure, facilitating the release of methane from the coal for extraction and use as an energy source. Water pumped from coalbeds during this process-CBM 'produced water'-is managed through some combination of treatment, disposal, storage, or use, subject to compliance with federal and state regulations. CBM produced water management can be challenging for regulatory agencies, CBM well operators, water treatment companies, policy makers, landowners, and the public because of differences in the quality and quantity of produced water; available infrastructure; costs to treat, store, and transport produced water; and states' legal consideration of water and produced water. Some states consider produced water as waste, whereas others consider it a beneficial byproduct of methane production. Thus, although current technologies allow CBM produced water to be treated to any desired water quality, the majority of CBM produced water is presently being disposed of at least cost rather than put to beneficial use. This book specifically examines the Powder River, San Juan, Raton, Piceance, and Uinta CBM basins in the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The conclusions and recommendations identify gaps in data and information, potential beneficial uses of CBM produced water and associated costs, and challenges in the existing regulatory framework.







Powder River Basin Coalbed Methane Development and Produced Water Management Study

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Page : pages

File Size : 26,42 MB

Release : 2003

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Coalbed methane resources throughout the entire Powder River Basin were reviewed in this analysis. The study was conducted at the township level, and as with all assessments conducted at such a broad level, readers must recognize and understand the limitations and appropriate use of the results. Raw and derived data provided in this report will not generally apply to any specific location. The coal geology in the basin is complex, which makes correlation with individual seams difficult at times. Although more than 12,000 wells have been drilled to date, large areas of the Powder River Basin remain relatively undeveloped. The lack of data obviously introduces uncertainty and increases variability. Proxies and analogs were used in the analysis out of necessity, though these were always based on sound reasoning. Future development in the basin will make new data and interpretations available, which will lead to a more complete description of the coals and their fluid flow properties, and refined estimates of natural gas and water production rates and cumulative recoveries. Throughout the course of the study, critical data assumptions and relationships regarding gas content, methane adsorption isotherms, and reservoir pressure were the topics of much discussion with reviewers. A summary of these discussion topics is provided as an appendix. Water influx was not modeled although it is acknowledged that this phenomenon may occur in some settings. As with any resource assessment, technical and economic results are the product of the assumptions and methodology used. In this study, key assumptions as well as cost and price data, and economic parameters are presented to fully inform readers. Note that many quantities shown in various tables have been subject to rounding; therefore, aggregation of basic and intermediate quantities may differ from the values shown.







Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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Page : pages

File Size : 38,63 MB

Release : 2002

Category : Coalbed methane

ISBN :

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A group of oil and gas companies (Companies) has notified the BLM and Forest Service of their intent to develop additional coal bed methane (CBM) resources in Wyoming Powder River basin. The Proposed Action includes drilling, completing, operating, and reclaiming almost 39,400 new CBM wells and constructing, operating, and reclaiming various ancillary facilities needed to support the new wells. The Proposed Action would occur in an almost 8,000,000-acre Project Area. Drilling would begin in 2002 and continue for 10 years. Three alternatives were considered in detail. They were Alternative 1 - the Proposed Actions, Alternative 2-the Proposed Action with Reduced Emission Levels and Expanded Disposed Water Handling Scenario, and Alternative 3-No Action. Alternative 1 consisted of a combination of the Companies proposal and the BLMs Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario. Alternative 2 was developed in response to issues raised during the public and agency scoping process. This alternative, which consists of Alternative 2A and 2B, would replace some to the proposed gas-fired compressors with electrical compressors and would involve less water discharged directly to the sub-watersheds. The No Action alternative is required by the National Environmental Policy Act for the comparison to other alternatives analyzed in the EIS. For this project, the No Action Alternative would not authorize additional natural gas development on Federal leases within the Project Area. Drilling could continue on State and private leases.