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Thomas P. Richmond Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation (Billings, Montana)

Overview of Coal Bed Natural Gas Best Practices and Mitigation Techniques Using Geospatial Techniques. Thomas P. Richmond Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation (Billings, Montana) J. Daniel Arthur, P.E. ALL Consulting (Tulsa, Oklahoma). API Water Forum April 2004.

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Thomas P. Richmond Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation (Billings, Montana)

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  1. Overview of Coal Bed Natural Gas Best Practices and Mitigation Techniques Using Geospatial Techniques Thomas P. Richmond Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation (Billings, Montana) J. Daniel Arthur, P.E. ALL Consulting (Tulsa, Oklahoma) API Water Forum April 2004 ALL Consulting

  2. Project Funding and Cooperators “Funding for this project was primarily sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy – Tulsa, part of the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the National Petroleum Technology Office; the Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation; and ALL Consulting. A broad array of cooperators participated in various aspects of the project, without which the research would not have been possible.” Fidelity Exploration & Production Company An MDU Resources Group, Inc. Company And Others… ALL Consulting

  3. Study Area Background • Geology • Hydrology • Climate • Air Quality • Cultural/Paleontological Resources • Indian Trust Assets/Native American Issues • Livestock Grazing • Soils • Solid and Hazardous Waste • Vegetation • Visual Resource Management • Wildlife • Land disposition Montana Powder River Basin CBNG Development Likelihood and Water Use ALL Consulting

  4. Project Plans may include: Water Management Plan Groundwater Monitoring Plan Wildlife Monitoring and Protection Plan Provisions specific to leasing arrangements Siting requirements And include a section of BMPs that will be implemented by the operator to address site specific issues Project planning consideration include: Land ownership requirements (federal lands guidance) Lease stipulations Controlled groundwater Area Monitoring Plans Regulatory Environment (including federal, state, and local regulations) Project Planning Elements ALL Consulting

  5. Best Management Practices What are Best Management Practices (BMPs) ? • BMPs are a suite of techniques, procedures, measures or practices which are site specific, economically feasible and are used to guide, or may be applied to, management actions to aid in achieving desired outcomes. • BMPs do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. ALL Consulting

  6. BMP Practice Areas BMPs were organized according to three operational areas: • Coal Bed Methane Exploration • Development and Operations of CBM • Abandonment and Restoration of CBM Facilities ALL Consulting

  7. Exploration BMPs • Surface conflicts • Special operating procedures • Issues which would require additional reclamation • Wildlife habitat • Visual impacts • Erosion potential • Landowners/surface lessee’s future plans for the area • Surrounding environment (rural or urban setting) Site Location – In addition to the regulatory requirements, lease stipulations, location of coal seams, and successful geologic testing there are other siting considerations: ALL Consulting

  8. Exploration BMPs Background Studies – Define the existing conditions to determine what action needs to be taken during operation and post operation activities to meet: • Landowner mitigation agreements • Site reclamation/restoration activities • Reduce public concern • Identify potential beneficial uses ALL Consulting

  9. Develop Health and Safety Plans which address site specific conditions and hazards. Develop Fire Prevention Plans on a site by site basis and include the local fire departments to insure onsite fire protection is adequate. Offer defensive driving courses to employees. Avoid traffic during school bus pick- up and drop-off times. Have work crews and rig hands car-pool to the job site to reduce traffic. Exploration BMPs Health and Safety Practices - Develop work place practices to minimize accidents and ensure the safety of the work force and local community such as: ALL Consulting

  10. Dust Control Irrigation Livestock Watering Industrial Use Impoundments Aquifer Storage and Recovery Landowner Use Potable Water use Aquifer Recharge Injection Other Use Development and Operational BMPs Water Management – Beneficial Use Evaluate the baseline data to determine what beneficial use options are best suited to site specific conditions. Depending on the quality of the produced water, potential beneficial uses may include: ALL Consulting

  11. Development and Operational BMPs Water Management – Disposal Options Beyond the typical beneficial uses of produced water, water management options should be carefully evaluated to minimize the potential for adverse impacts to the environment. Some of these options for produced water management include: • Deep Injection • Direct Discharge to Surface Water • Flow based discharge • Rate based discharge • Discharge to the Land Surface • Impoundments • Other ALL Consulting

  12. Development and Operational BMPs Miscellaneous Facilities – The planning of operation facilities prior to construction can help to minimize impacts and help to reduce public concern. Project Plans could be used to address the following areas of concern: • Surface Disturbances • Aesthetics • Emissions • Pumps • Other ALL Consulting

  13. Wildlife Related BMPs Miscellaneous Wildlife - Some Examples of Wildlife BMPs include: • The use of raptor-safe power poles for above ground utilities. • Use of underground power lines whenever possible. • One-way-in/One-way-out roads for access to well sites. • Drilling wells in pods as opposed to single well pads. • Locating wells and well pods away from Threatened & Endangered species habitat when possible. ALL Consulting

  14. Miscellaneous BMPs Miscellaneous Various - A variety of miscellaneous BMPs can be used with regard to development and production of CBM: • Carpooling of workers • Eliminating construction related traffic during school bus pick-up and drop-off hours • Training onsite workers in fire safety • Onsite workers could receive work activity related health and safety training including CPR and Emergency Response training. ALL Consulting

  15. Abandonment and Restoration BMPs Miscellaneous Abandonment CBM abandonment and restoration refers to controlled or managed restoration efforts to minimize permanent impairments to the land or area resources. BMPs are used for: • Well Abandonment • Native Flora Restoration • Habitat Restoration • Soil Restoration • Removal of Infrastructure and Utilities ALL Consulting

  16. Combining BMPs with GIS Project Planning Initiated Analysis of available BMP and Mitigation Alternatives. Handbook provides options and considerations Utilize Geospatial analysis for data evaluation, including soils, land disposition, surface waters, land use, roads, development history, etc. Assessment of alternatives and selection of mitigation strategy and best management practices (POD Preparation) ALL Consulting

  17. Geospatial Analyses: WebMapper The WebMapper application was developed as a custom ArcIMS application using the Spatial Data Engine (SDE). WebMapper is updated on a real-time basis directly to the MBOGC’s Risk Based Data Management System (RBDMS). ALL Consulting

  18. Geospatial Analyses: WebMapper Internet GIS tools can be used to visually assess planning conditions, such as Indian reservations, soil types, waterways, roads, land ownership disposition, existing and anticipated development situations, etc. ALL Consulting

  19. Geospatial Analyses: WebMapper WebMapper allows users to access well locations for CBM wells, conventional oil & gas wells statewide, and other well types within the study area. ALL Consulting

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