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Water produced from coal-bed methane companies could be mixed with regular drinking water if those companies take an interest in a city request. Utility Engineering Manager Steve Peterson said the city has spoken with people in the methane industry on providing the water as a short-term solution to a projected city water shortage. He said the city needs the water now and needs to work to get as much water as possible until a new $170 million pipeline can be built in the next 10 years. He thinks the request is a reasonable starting point to get methane companies to the negotiating table and to point out what the city¹s needs will be. ³We could use the water starting next summer,² Peterson said. Here are the four main needs the city has for any proposal from coal-bed methane companies:
- Delivery: Methane companies would be responsible for the delivery of the water to the city.
- Water quality: The water has to meet or exceed drinking water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Water Works Association and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
- Time: The agreement would last 10 years before it is automatically terminated but leaves room for the city or the company to get out of the contract before 10 years if given 30 days notice.
- Quantity: The city will need an estimated 5 million gallons a day from the methane companies.
A written response from Paula Beasley, a senior public affairs representative with Anadarko Petroleum Corp., indicated that the company is aware of Gillette¹s water needs and is open to discussing viable solutions. Beasley said the company now sends the water through a 48-mile pipeline to Midwest, where it is re-injected into the Madison aquifer. Bob Vergnani, operations manager with Coleman Oil and Gas Co., said water is a huge issue for the companies and a big expense. ³Anytime we can use that water, it¹s a good thing,² Vergnani said. Vergnani said water from the company¹s wells south of Gillette from the Wyodak coal seam is good quality. The biggest problem he sees with the request is the high cost of treating the water and shipping it to Gillette. Vergnani said his company now uses discharge permits for the water it accumulates, which is less expensive for the small methane operation than treating it and putting it to use. While the company¹s wells don¹t produce the volume of water to support the city¹s needs, it eventually hopes to venture into the area of providing water for public consumption
Local News - Gillette, Wyoming
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 |
