The information needed to create the regulations for the most environmentally friendly and cost effective Coal Bed Methane gas production!

The Coal Bed Methane industry is critical to our energy independence and yet contains many environmental concerns, all of which are key issues for lawmakers and regulators. It is critical that we are up-to-date on CBM water handling methods that are becoming the model for the CBM industry!

Coal Bed Methane (CBM) gas production is only at a small fraction of its capacity around the world. It is inevitable that there will be 1,000's of new CBM wells that will be drilled over the next 10 years to tap the additional capacity that is still available. While we understand the need for energy, we know there are many concerns from environmentalists, landowners, and CBM well operators, and we are offering our regulators the solution.

These concerns can be summed up as follows:

What do the environmentalists want:

1. Keep our water quality safe and protected.
2. Stop removing large quantities of water from our watersheds.
3. Reduce surface disturbances and the need for surface reclamation.

What do landowners want:

1. Protect the quantity and quality of water on our property.
2. Keep all the water on our land and in the ground for future use.
3. Eliminate the need for extensive water piping systems, holding ponds, or treatment facilities that cause current and future land disturbance.
   
4. Eliminate ice flows from surface water discharged during the winter.
5. Reduce the time it takes CBM operators to pay landowner royalties.

What do CBM Well Operators want:

1. Reduce the time and cost for CBM well permits.
2. Eliminate the infrastructure requirements and costs for handling CBM produced water.
3. Produce gas more rapidly from drilled wells.
4. Lower our long term reclamation costs.
5. Satisfy environmentalists and landowners needs.
6. Implement the lowest cost solution for handling CBM produced water.

Fortunately, there is a way to handle produced water in the majority of CBM wells that can satisfy the needs of environmentalists, landowners, and CBM operators.

While natural gas prices continue to impact gas production and water handling decisions, some CBM Operators are utilizing an Aquifer Re-injection Device (ARID) in order to reduce water handling costs and support environmental concerns. The ARID system eliminates the need to bring the CBM produced water to the surface and should NOT be confused with deep high pressure injection. ARID is completely different.

The ARID system allows groundwater to be retained by using a low pressure water re-injection process in the same well bore. With ARID, the water is pumped from the coal seam to a shallower aquifer that contains water of similar quality. The gas is allowed to pass through a separate riser pipe for removal from the well thus converting the production well into an aquifer recharge well at the same time. It is estimated that 85% of the wells in the Powder River Basin and many other CBM wells worldwide are compatible for aquifer reinjection, and if implemented, would reduce the loss of precious ground water while enhancing aquifers of landowners, private and public, for years to come.

Aquifer re-injection is a win-win for our environment, operators, and surface owners, while at the same time reducing costs and disturbance. Regulators will be demanding that, where possible, operators will use the ARID System instead of using the conventional methods of handling CBM produced water. Supportive legislation will satisfy the needs of ALL concerned parties while we continue to pursue our domestic energy and revenue goals.

If you would like to learn more about the environmental and cost saving benefits of the ARID system, please review our web site or you are welcome to contact our Geologist, Ray Murphy at 307-462-4295 to discuss the long term benefits of the ARID system for handling CBM produced water.