COAL BED METHANE
THE BASICS

Jennifer McGill
Environmental Specialist
Chickaloon Native Village



Coal Bed Methane is Also Known As . . .
Coal Bed Natural Gas
Shallow Natural Gas

Look for any of these names, 
They all refer to the same thing . . .


Information Sources for this Presentation:
Bryner, Gary.  "Coalbed Methane Development in the Intermountain West: Primer",
Natural Resources Law Center,
University of Colorado School of Law, July 2002.

Darin, Thomas and Travis Stills, Preserving our Public Lands:  A Citizen's Guide 
to Understanding and Participating in Oil and Gas Decisions Affecting Our Public Lands, 
Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, 2002.


THE BASICS:
What is Coal Bed Methane and how is it produced?

What are the possible economic, social, and environmental impacts to our community 
from this development?


WHAT IS COAL BED METHANE?
A form of natural gas that is trapped inside coal seams.
The surfaces of the coal are porous and can hold gas.  The gas attaches to the coal 
surface and is held in place by pressure exerted by groundwater.
Methane remains in a coal seam as long as the water table is higher than the coal.
The coal bed must be dewatered before the gas will flow.
CBM is a significant part of State and Federal energy policy. 
How is CBM Produced?
CBM is produced by drilling wells into a coal seam, these wells are considered 
shallow  (less than 4000 ft)

The coal bed is dewatered by pumping out the ground water 
(12,000 gallons per day per well on average)

CBM PRODUCTION
Production Requires Significant Infrastructure: 
Roads
Drill pads (avg. size 1 acre)
Pipelines & compressors 
Generators & pumpjacks 
Communication towers 
Water disposal facilities 
Processing facilities
Etc&helip;
CBM Production
Some wells require hydraulic fracturing to stimulate gas flow. 

Fracturing fluids may contain substances which are toxic, hazardous and/or  
carcinogenic, such as diesel fuel or hydrochloric acid. 

Wells typically produce gas for 7-10 years.

Areas in the Lower 48 have tens of thousands of these wells
(so many that they can be seen from satellite images).
An Idea to Remember
"Some basins may not look profitable at first, but innovative
technologies are developed that make development feasible"



POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS: ECONOMIC
Short term employment opportunities (7-10 years) that may require specialized
personnel not available here
Short term increase local economy from employees using local businesses
Short term increase in state revenues 
(drilling companies retain between 87.5 and 93.75% of revenues)
Decrease in property values 
Increased expenditures for local infrastructure due to increased traffic and use


POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS: SOCIAL
Conflicts over split estates
Conflicts over differences of opinion on best uses of public lands (state and federal)
Communities can feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of development
Stress caused by excessive noise from pump jacks, generators and compressors
Increased demands on local infrastructure and increased vehicle traffic
Potential loss of drinking water source 


POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS: WATER
Dewatering Operations
Large volumes of water of varying quality is a waste product of the 
drilling process (12,000 gal/day per well) 
There are two disposal options for produced water - surface or underground reinjection
Disposal method is not mandated by the State
Reinjection is the most expensive option

Groundwater Depletion
Lowered water levels in domestic wells has been an effect in the Lower 48

Water Quality Effects
Seepage of methane or hydraulic fracturing fluids into domestic water supplies
has been an effect in the Lower 48


POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS: LAND AND WILDLIFE 

Land
Increased methane mobility due to dewatering may lead to venting and seepage
through other routes
Mobility of other natural gases also increases (e.g. hydrogen sulfide)  
Soil & vegetation damage from construction activities, water discharge 
(if surface discharge), and methane seepage
Ground movement caused by hydraulic fracturing operations and water re-injection
Sink holes resulting from reduced underground water pressure
Loss of scenic values
Increase in underground coal fires

Wildlife
Habitat fragmentation from road, pipeline, and well pad construction
Increased stress on wildlife populations from noise and traffic


POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS: AIR
Decreases in air quality due to:  

Increased traffic (dust and exhaust)
Emissions from generators
Wind-generated dust from well pads and roads


NOW YOU KNOW THE BASICS!

DO THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS?  
ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE . . .
THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY