tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post7536851802232815206..comments2023-05-25T03:08:18.166-06:00Comments on Montana Headlines: Coalbed methane -- plan BUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-45450560688957103602007-04-13T22:17:00.000-06:002007-04-13T22:17:00.000-06:00As I said, "if things are as billed," it will be a...As I said, "if things are as billed," it will be a win-win.<BR/><BR/>Good questions all. Existing water law would regulate who owns the underground water rights. If the water is pumped out again, it won't be for irrigation, any more than is any other well-water in the region. <BR/><BR/>The question is whether the water is too saline to be useful for watering livestock -- a question easily answered, as is the question of whether there are existing wells drawing water off that same coal seam.<BR/><BR/>We should want to promote energy development, as long as surface rights owners are recompensed fairly for any land taken out of agricultural commission during the time of extracting the methane, and as long as we can be assured that soil and water remain good for agricultural use long after the energy development is gone.<BR/><BR/>If either of those conditions can't be met, the methane should be left right where it is.Montana Headlineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149094528547382638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592841981416728347.post-37427916812680498772007-04-13T05:41:00.000-06:002007-04-13T05:41:00.000-06:00Win-win for everyone? I'm not so sure. It's a pr...Win-win for everyone? I'm not so sure. It's a promising beginning but the whole idea is new enough that I wouldn't call it a win-win. <BR/><BR/>How far will the injected water migrate? Who owns the injected water? Will the injected water still be to high in salts when it is pumped out again or will the coal bed filter it? <BR/><BR/>What affect will this have on existing wells? A different company is pumping water out of the same coal seam that this company wants to inject water into, how does it affect that especially since it is across the border in Wyoming?<BR/><BR/>I'm sure there are more questions about this out there that I haven't asked. Too many questions to call it a win-win. A hope for the future would be better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com