Powder River Basin (MT & WY) Coal Bed Methane Infiltration Study Project Workplan

PRB Infiltration StudyPRB Infiltration Study MBOGC & ALL ConsultingMBOGC & ALL Consulting Page 1

Powder River Basin (MT & WY)Powder River Basin (MT & WY)Coal Bed Methane Infiltration Coal Bed Methane Infiltration

StudyStudyProject WorkplanProject Workplan

Prepared by

Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation (Billings, MT)ALL Consulting (Tulsa, OK)

DOE Contract: DE-AD26-03NT30489MBOGC Contract: 2003-01


Research Funding & Research Funding & CooperatorsCooperators

• Funding– U.S. DOE-FE

• NPTO/NETL

– Montana BOGC– ALL Consulting– Industry

• Cooperators– Cooperation with

stakeholders and other related and applicable research is a priority for the project

Fidelity Exploration & Production CompanyFidelity Exploration & Production CompanyAn MDU Resources Group, Inc. Company

Fidelity Exploration & Production CompanyFidelity Exploration & Production CompanyAn MDU Resources Group, Inc. Company

Anadarko PetroleumAnadarko Petroleum

Additional Cooperators Desired…Additional Cooperators Desired…Additional Cooperators Desired…Additional Cooperators Desired…

Western Research ProjectWestern Research Project


ObjectivesObjectives

• Improving efficiencies and reducing costs

• Enhance understanding• Document current usages • Characterize and forecast

infiltration systems • Develop a guidebook • Pursue cooperation with

other complimentary research


Project OverviewProject Overview

• Phase I– Data Gathering– Field Analysis– Site-Specific Data

Collection

• Phase II– Technical Analysis– Modeling– Analysis Methods

• Phase III– Analysis & Review– Report Development– Technology Transfer


Prospective Research SitesProspective Research Sites


Skewed SiteSkewed Site

Anadarko PetroleumBLM Buffalo Field OfficeU.S. Geological Survey

Johnson County, WyomingPowder River Watershed


Skewed SiteSkewed Site

• Project funding provided by BLM and DOE’s National Petroleum Technology Office

• BLM Buffalo Field Office and USGS are leading a coordinated research effort for infiltration system in Johnson County, Wyoming

• Site part of the Big George Unit operated by Anadarko Petroleum

• Extensive monitoring system to facilitate analysis water chemistry and infiltration/migration of produced water from CBNG operations

• System monitoring is ongoing


ObjectivesObjectives

• Compliment ongoing research being performed by BLM, USGS and Anadarko

• Focus Issues– Siting criteria used and lessons learned– design, permitting & regulatory concerns– Operations and related effectiveness– Fate & effects of produced water– Analysis Procedures


Skewed Site ReservoirSkewed Site Reservoir

Reservoir DamMonitoring Stations


Influent & Pre-TreatmentInfluent & Pre-Treatment


Pre-Treatment SystemPre-Treatment System

PW Reservoir

Reservoir Dam

ZeoliteTreatment System

Monitoring Stations


Skewed Site MonitoringSkewed Site Monitoring

Monitoring Stations PW Reservoir


Seven Brothers & CX Seven Brothers & CX RanchRanch

Fidelity ExplorationMontana/Wyoming

Tongue River Watershed


Seven Brothers RanchSeven Brothers Ranch

• Seven Brothers/CX Ranch– Located along the Montana/Wyoming

boarder– Development underway by Fidelity

Exploration– Project is an expansion of the CX Ranch

Field


Site Selection TechniquesSite Selection Techniques

• Field evaluation practices include identification of suitable topographic features, landowner preferences, soil characteristics, and more…

Thick clay soil with absence of permeable layers

Gentle sloping area (<4/1 slope) with good usable berm on 1 to 3 sides of proposed pond placement.

Trenching is a common and economical way to gain

preliminary soils data for site suitability analysis


Good Soil CharacteristicsGood Soil Characteristics

~25’

Thick impermeable clays provide barriers to downward infiltration of produced water to be stored in the impoundment

Because of equipment that is common in CBM development areas in the PRB, trenching is commonly used as a “first-cut” in assessing the feasibility of a potential impoundment site.

Safety is always an issue. Operators may choose to install temporary fences in some locations to avoid accidents to humans, cattle, and wildlife.

Trenching may be followed by additional subsurface data collection, possibly using drilling or other techniques (e.g., hydroprobe, augering, etc.)


Preliminary Data CollectionPreliminary Data Collection

Trenching Equipment

Site exploration trench


Depositional ChallengesDepositional ChallengesThe Powder River Basin has broad heterogeneities relative to the depositional environment. In this example, a permeable and weathered coal seam is identified below about 15 feet of clay having intermittent sand and claystone layers.

~15’ Clay mix

Weathered coal showing signs of sulfate deposits


Culp Draw SiteCulp Draw Site(potential site)(potential site)

Anadarko PetroleumJohnson County, WyomingBeaver Creek Watershed


Culp Draw SettingCulp Draw Setting

Cottonwood Trees

View into draw at approximate Dam location


Inside Culp DrawInside Culp Draw


Geochemistry IssuesGeochemistry Issues

Local soil and bedrock deposits can impact chemical fate of “water” in the PRB, including Produced water, rainfall, snow melt, etc.

Gypsum Deposits in Coal


Pre-CBNG Mineral DepositsPre-CBNG Mineral Deposits

• Existing soils in the PRB may naturally contain high levels of various compounds, such as salts and metals

• At Culp Draw, as is common in the region, evaporated water has left visible mineral deposits (PRIOR TO CBNG DEVELOPMENT)

Salt and Mineral Deposits


Natural Mineral DepositsNatural Mineral Deposits

• Natural mineral deposits are common throughout the PRB and in Culp Draw

• Background analysis and identification of local “natural” deposits can help to avoid confusion pertaining to causation of visible and measurable environmental variations


Elegant Environmental Elegant Environmental SolutionsSolutions

• Cottonwood trees are common to the local area at Culp Draw

• Cottonwoods have an exceptional capacity absorb groundwater and are approximately three (3) times more effective than simple evaporation for volume reduction of water

• The use of cottonwoods for groundwater management could be evaluated at the Culp Draw site


Coordinated Water Coordinated Water ManagementManagement

Irrigation for is one of the produced water management

practices used in the Big George Unit by Anadarko

Petroleum

Wildlife watering is an important local beneficial use of CBNG produced water in the PRB. Wildlife, such as Antelope, are attracted to

CBNG reservoirs.


Produced Water TreatmentProduced Water TreatmentZeolite Pre-Treatment SAR Reduction using Gypsum


Surface DischargeSurface Discharge

CBNG Produced Water Discharge from Anadarko Petroleum’s Big George Unit into Beaver Creek

Burger Draw, downstream of CBNG produced water discharges

Beaver Dam


Closing…Closing…

• New sites are currently under review by the research team and industry cooperators– Final selections to be determined by Summer 2004

• Researchers, DOE, and the Western Research Project are working to cooperate on complimentary issues– Coal Creek Site– Beaver Creek Site

• DOE currently considering shallow seismic to research using previously funded DOE research by Montana Tech

• Coordination with other researchers/cooperators desired (Universities, government, etc.)– Collaboration, technical, guidance, review, etc.


Contact InformationContact Information

ALL Project ManagerALL Project ManagerDan Arthur, P.EProject Research

ManagerALL Consulting1305 E. 15th StreetSuite 205Tulsa, Oklahoma [email protected]/cbm

MBOGC Project MBOGC Project ManagerManagerTom RichmondAdministratorMontana BOGC2535 St. JohnsBillings, Montana406-656-0040trichmond@mt.state.uswww.bogc.dnrc.state.mt.us

Powder River Basin (MT & WY) Coal Bed Methane Infiltration Study Project Workplan

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