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The Water Management Toolbox
What is The Water Management Toolbox? |
The solution to properly manage coalbed natural gas water is right in front of our nose. It's called The Water Management Toolbox.
The solutions literally enable operators and landowners throughout the Rocky Mountains to get a handle on the water. The "tools" are connecting people with possibilities. The evidence is growing.
Celebrating a Solution
Ranchers are growing crops in fields that had limited to no water access before. Cows are ranging in what used to be unfit rangeland. Wildlife is double-dipping into their share of the wet blessings.
Needless to say, ranchers with coalbed natural gas development, especially in the Powder River Basin, are pleased to have access to more water.
Implementing The Water Management Toolbox allows landowners and operators more flexibility and above all, input into how the water is managed. The options allow the multidimensional interests of farmers, ranchers, producers and communities to be fully addressed.
Since water quality varies across Rocky Mountain basins and even from ranch to ranch within each basin, the solutions toolbox is custom designed for site-specific areas. The landowner and operator simply reach inside and pick the best "tool," or set of tools, for the job at hand.
Choosing the Right Tool
Ten years ago only one tool was used, surface discharge. Today, there are more than 30 tools in The Water Management Toolbox. Seven commonly used tool categories exist including: surface discharge, managed irrigation, impoundments, injection, treatment, commercial and industrial uses and a rapidly growing, emerging technologies category.
Different basins utilize different tools. Where the water is of high quality, such as in the Powder River Basin, the Greater Green River Basin and the Raton Basin, the water is put to multiple beneficial uses generally via surface application. Where water quality does not meet federal standards, like in the San Juan Basin and the Piceance Basin, the majority of water is either treated or injected. Again, this is only a general rule of thumb, and options still vary from basin to basin.
Surface discharge is the most widely used tool for the east side of the Powder River Basin because the water quality is cleaner than drinking water. This tool increases stream flow, creates riparian habitats and allows for extra irrigation water. Almost every basin with coalbed natural gas development has some associated surface discharge : some with very limited use versus the broader use of this tool in the Powder River Basin. Regulatory restrictions can inhibit the use of this tool, even though the water is of high quality. This is evident on the Montana side of the Powder River Basin.
Ranchers benefit greatly from increased agriculture productivity when they use managed irrigation, an increasingly popular tool. It differs from traditional irrigation because it is an established soil science. Produced water is utilized in a beneficial manner by using water chemistry and agronomic principles. Operators, landowners and soil agronomists work hand-in-hand to ensure the managed irrigation is practiced properly causing no diminishment in the soil or crop quality.
Impoundments, small reservoirs or ponds that are lined or unlined, are a standard tool, particularly in areas like the west side of the Powder River Basin. Landowners with a future vision for their ranch have placed impoundments in a way to work in concert with this vision. These landowners have enjoyed many associated benefits as a result. A variety of options are possible including; managed irrigation projects, trout ponds, watering the yard or simply enjoying the wildlife that the additional water attracts.
Injection is another tool out of The Water Management Toolbox. Widespread use is limited in basins such as the Powder River because the preferred shallow aquifers are generally unable to handle large amounts of water. There are also many different ways to inject. The geological challenges make it complicated, but, it can work in some situations. For example, in the San Juan, the Uinta and Piceance Basins, the vast majority of the water is handled via the injection tool.
Treatment is another emerging water management tool. Underneath this category, at least ten types of treatment exist today. Although many technological advances have been made in this field, this is still one of the most expensive options. However, many pilot projects are experimenting with a variety of treatment options. Please refer to treatment chart.
Commercial and industrial uses provide abundant options when it comes to managing coalbed natural gas water. These applications include uses such as dust abatement and water for coal mines. Microbrew (beer) production and using the water as a supplement to municipal water sources have been experimented with as well. Experimentation with utilizing the coalbed natural gas water in commercial tilapia fish farms is also happening.
Emerging technologies utilize innovative science to manage the water. A pilot tree farm in the Powder River Basin has been successful. Poplar trees are absorbing a large amount of coalbed natural gas water and creating an oasis in traditionally barren land. Creative piping techniques on an individual, regional and state level are also growing in use and being discussed at length as large scale mechanisms for handling additional water. Another system in the works is called the Sahara System, a system designed to leave the produced water underground, while at the same time allowing the gas to flow up the wellbore and be produced. And, the final touches are now being put on a new collaborative effort, the Water Mediation Initiative, which will utilize group efforts to solve water issues in the future.
Valuing your Toolbox
As a landowner or an operator, it is vital to value and secure access to all the tools in the toolbox.
Water is being handled in a variety of ways, not just one. The opportunity exists for landowners and operators to tap into the toolbox, creating individualized solutions based on the expertise and resources of the operators along with input from the landowner.
Evidence of the effectiveness of The Water Management Toolbox is increasing. Continued growth is occurring in the number and use of each tool.
Because input is gathered from all involved, and research and development leads to an ever expanding toolbox, The Water Management Toolbox will lead to endless possibilities and improved water management plans throughout the Rocky Mountains.
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