Posted: Friday, May 9, 2008 12:00 am
RAWLINS (AP) - Ranchers and environmentalists have been complaining about methane springs bubbling up from old exploratory drilling holes, but a geologist says the phenomenon is a normal side-effect of early coal-bed methane development and no cause for concern.
Such "seeps" have appeared in the Atlantic Rim area south of Rawlins.
They occur as nearby coal-bed methane drilling releases pressure from water-saturated coal seams. The drilling causes methane to be released from the water.
The released methane then finds its way to the surface, pushing water up through new wells and any other holes drilled over the years in search of gas, oil, water or even uranium.
The water emerges at the surface as bubbling springs, mud pots or even geysers shooting as high as 60 feet into the air.
"It can be pretty dramatic looking," Bj Kristiansen, a geologist with the Coal-bed Methane Coordination Coalition, told the Carbon County Commission on Tuesday.
He showed commissioners a slide of a 2-foot length of pipe sticking from the ground and spewing a geyser of water. Dramatic or not, he said such springs are "not really a big deal."
He said they settle down after a while and can provide water for wildlife and livestock.
Kristiansen said companies in years past didn't bother plugging old drilling holes. He said they do now because they don't want gas reserves to escape.