pssssst anna ... check this out

Oh no Anna ... you have backed the wrong horse in the misunderstood Environment Stakes.

Exerts of concerns from a region of mature coal seam gas production in the US:

http://www.energyjustice.net/naturalgas/cbm/


Produced Water

Typically, saltier water is produced from deeper coal formations. Produced water may contain nitrate, nitrite, chlorides, other salts, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, other minerals, metals and high levels of total dissolved solids.170

... produced water may be: discharged onto land, spread onto roads, discharged into evaporation/percolation pits, reinjected into aquifers, discharged into existing water courses (with the proper permit), or disposed of in commercial facilities.

In some areas, coal beds may be important local or regional aquifers (natural underground water storage zones), and important sources for drinking water.172 It is important, therefore, that landowners find out how companies are planning on disposing of produced water, and what impact its removal and disposal might have on water supplies.


Water Quality and Methane/Hydrogen Sulfide Migration

A study conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents a number of examples of water quality impacts and other issues encountered after CBM extraction occurred.173 These include reported incidents of:

# Explosive levels of hydrogen sulfide and methane under buildings and inside homes

# Death of vegetation (possibly due to seepage of methane and decreased air in root zones)

# Increased concentrations of methane and hydrogen sulfide in domestic water wells

# Cloudy well water with increased sediment concentrations following hydraulic fracturing

# Strong odors and black coal fines in water wells

# Brown, slimy well water that smelled like petroleum

# Decrease in well water levels and surface water flows following hydraulic fracturing

# The discharge of produced water creating new ponds and swamps that were not naturally occurring in particular regions

Water Quantity

Rural residents across the country have experienced decreases in the levels of their drinking water wells, as well as the drying up of springs.175 Monitoring wells maintained by the federal Bureau of Land Management in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming/Montana have indicated a drop in the aquifer of more than 200 feet.176 Estimates are that the water levels could drop to a total of 600-800 feet over the course of CBM development in that basin.177


Spontaneous Combustion of Dewatered Coalbeds

The EPA has reported the spontaneous combustion and continued burning of completely dewatered coalbeds as a concern related to CBM development.178 When water is pumped out of coal seams, coal becomes exposed to oxygen, and coal fires are possible. This can occur spontaneously, or from lightning strikes or ignition by grass fires or wildfires. The areas most likely to be the site of a coal fire are along the edges of basins where coal is close to the surface and oxygen can most easily enter the coal when water is removed ... If coal fires occur, by-products, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), from the underground fires could potentially lead to contamination of underground sources of drinking water.180


Compaction/Subsidence

When water is removed from the rock, the pore spaces are left open, and the rock can collapse. In parts of the world, there have been incidents where enormous quantities of water have been removed from shallow aquifers, followed by as much as a 40-foot drop (or subsidence) in the surface of the land. The consequences of the subsidence have included the rupturing of utility lines (gas, sewage, water, electric), collapse of buildings, and damage to roads.181


Noise

From exploration through site abandonment, noise is generated by truck traffic, heavy equipment, seismic explosions, drilling rigs, motors that power pumps, and gas compressors. The noise from all of the equipment may be a frustration for landowners. The constant noise from pumps and compressors, however, can greatly affect a landowner's quality of life, and have negative impacts on livestock and wildlife.


Cavitation

The coal brought to the surface (100 tons on average) during cavitation is burned on site, which can last anywhere from 7 to 10 days. The pollution from burning this waste coal can be a concern for nearby residents, especially because oil and gas well "completion techniques" like cavitation are largely unregulated (e.g., they are exempt from certain environmental laws like the Clean Air Act).

Pollution normally associated with coal burning includes: nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, lead and mercury.

The noise associated with cavitation is a major concern for landowners, livestock and wildlife. As mentioned above, jet-like noises can last for up to 15 minutes. If no notice is provided to landowners, the abrupt and shocking sound can startle livestock and residents.

Decline in Property Values

A study in LaPlata County, Colorado, found that the location of a coalbed methane well on a property at the time of sale led to a net reduction in selling price of approximately 22%.184


But hey Anna, it is different in Qld ... coal seam gas just smells and looks like roses.

Viva le UCG.

Dex