Coal Bed Methane Best Management Practices Workshop

DE-AP26-03NT30403

Program
This project was a follow-up on the "Best Management" practices and technologies developed under Contract DE-FG26-02NT15380.

Project Goal
The goal was to prepare and conduct four workshops on coalbed methane (CBM) development and "best management practices", which target various stakeholder audiences.

Performer
Arthur Langhus Layne, LLC (ALL Consulting)
Tulsa, OK

Project Results
ALL has conducted workshops and made numerous presentations on CBM "best practices" in key regional and national locations that have CBM resources.

Benefits
The workshop format allows presentation of a wide variety of information on CBM development and environmental concerns related to produced water. Workshops are the best way to reach the audience of land owners, ranchers, CBM developers, state and federal agencies and environmental groups interested in CBM development. Diverse viewpoints and expert presentations are offered at the workshops. The workshops make use of the extensive information gathering during previous ALL contracts on CBM development, water treatment and alternative uses of CBM produced water.

Background
During the previous project, Handbooks for Preparing, Evaluation, Development, Environmental Plans and Background Development Pertinent to Coal Bed Methane Production (DE-FG26-02NT15380) were developed and published as three volumes. The publications included the location of coal and CBM deposits, regulatory issues, water rights, the volumes and quality of CBM produced water, treatment of produced water, and beneficial use alternatives for disposal of produced water. The workshops help ensure that this data will be available to the public in an easily accessible/open manner.

CBM development on Public Lands in the west and water management relative to CBM development is of major interest to a number of groups including: ranching and agricultural interests, citizens living in the area, hunters, fishermen, state and federal agencies, and environmental groups. The workshops present information on leasing and development of environmental and planning studies that must be in-place prior to any CBM activities, including project-specific planning. A major goal of the project was to provide public and landowner education and coordination to groups with an interest in CBM.

Project Summary
The focus of the four CBM produced water workshops is a five state area of the Rocky Mountains (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico). This is an active growth area where CBM is a significant natural gas resource. A major emphasis of the workshops is demonstrating alternative beneficial uses for CBM produced water.

Workshops held:

• Gillette, WY - July 2003
• Billings, MT - August 2003 (in connection with Montana Petroleum Association Annual meeting
• Denver, CO - April 28-29, 2004 (coordinated with the American Petroleum Institute)
• Albuquerque, NM - October 11, 2004 (in conjunction with the International Petroleum Environmental (IPEC) conference).
  

Current Status (July 2005)
An additional workshop has been added at no additional cost to DOE. This workshop was held at the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) meeting in Anchorage, AK in May 2005.

Project Start: May 25, 2003
Project End: October 31, 2004

DOE Contribution: $50,000 (100% of total)
Performer Contribution: None

Other Government Organizations Involved
Bureau of Land Management

Contact Information
NETL – Rhonda Jacobs (rhonda.jacobs@netl.doe.gov or 918-699-2037)
ALL Consulting – Dan Arthur (darthur@all-llc.com or 918-382-7582)

Delineating beneficial uses of CBM produced water.

Coal basins of the U.S.

Five state area of emphasis for CBM development.