Two sides to the story

In order to make an informed decision, we all need both sides of the story. For this reason, I feel compelled to write about the positive side of coalbed natural gas development. A recent article in this newspaper extensively quoted the chairwoman of the Wyoming Powder River Basin Resource Council, an environmental group notoriously opposed to development.

Producing this energy resource has been controversial and has created two "sides" to the issue. Simply said, there are those that support production and those that oppose it and most other development. Part of the plan of the opposing side is to issue misinformation that dwells on emotional arguments based on imperfect science.

Throughout the article, the water produced in association with the natural gas in Wyoming is called "salty." This is a case of misunderstanding the science. Although the quality of the water varies throughout the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana, the majority of the discharged water contains small amounts of dissolved salts but it is essentially fresh water. According to United States Geological Survey (USGS) definitions, highly saline water contains from 10,000 to 35,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). According to the same definition, freshwater contains less than 1,000 mg/L of TDS.

The water that is produced from Fidelity Exploration & Production Company's wells near the Tongue River in Montana has been tested and contains 1,400 mg/L of TDS. As you can see, this is essentially fresh water by the USGS definition and to characterize this water as "salty" is a stretch of the facts. It is interesting to note that ranchers in the area have used the water as their source of drinking water for their homes and cattle for decades. Wyoming and Montana are in a drought and the produced water has been beneficial to farmers and ranchers there. Most of it meets federal and state safe drinking water standards and all of it meets standards for livestock. Some landowners have used the water for irrigation. In some cases, the soil needs to be treated before the water is used because of a characteristic known as Sodium Adsorption Ratio, or SAR. But with proper soil treatment and conscientious water management, ranchers have found a new source to grow forage for livestock in a semi-arid rangeland.

In an earlier editorial in this newspaper, I urged you to resist the sensational stories you may hear from Montana and Wyoming about coalbed natural gas development. Ask for the science and the facts and become knowledgeable about how the work is done. Folks in Wyoming and Montana who make the effort to understand the process, the science, and the related environmental protections quickly become supporters.

Much is unknown about the coalbed natural gas project slated for North Dakota. But when testing begins, water quality and quantity will be better understood. Producing this resource involves a high degree of science and technology, some of which is hard to understand so I empathize with those that want to learn.

I do know that coalbed natural gas development can co-exist with a healthy environment. Several years of environmental studies in Wyoming and Montana demonstrate this fact. Additionally, in these states there are regulatory and environmental protections in place to prohibit degradation of land and water. One common misconception that opponents love to spread is that coalbed natural gas development is not regulated. Quite the opposite is true. Production systems and water management are highly regulated and monitored by several state and federal agencies as well as being subject to numerous state and federal laws.

Certainly, care is required in developing coalbed natural gas. All extractive industries have an impact on the land and producers and regulators need to monitor operations very closely. As you evaluate coalbed natural gas development, I urge you to stick to science and facts. Don't jump to conclusions based on undefined photography, speculation, emotion and scientifically unsupportable statements.

Mike Caskey
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Fidelity Exploration & Production Company