COAL BED NATURAL GAS PRODUCED WATER MANAGEMENT: NEW INSIGHTS TO A CHALLENGING ISSUE

J. Daniel Arthur, P.E.*
ALL Consulting
1305 E. 15th Street, Suite 205
Tulsa, OK 74120
Voice: 918-382-7581
Fax: 918-382-7582
E-mail: darthur@all-llc.com

Management of coal bed natural gas (CBNG) produced water has become ever more challenging since methane gas was first discovered and produced in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming. Environmental concerns associated with handling large water volumes in an arid climate are but one of the key issues. In recent months, industry has looked more closely at a wide variety of solutions for management of produced water, including treatment, deep injection, beneficial uses, and others. Further, an abundance of research relative to this issue has been undertaken with new information arising almost daily. This paper will present and summarize some of the most recent water management issues from within the Powder River Basin.