Casper company plans CBM exploration in southwest
By JEFF GEARINO
Southwest Wyoming bureau
Saturday, August 7, 2004 12:12 AM MDT
GREEN RIVER -- A Casper company wants to test the coalbed methane waters, so to speak, in a small project within the Great Divide Basin in southwest Wyoming aimed at gauging the potential for CBM development.
The Scott Lake Coalbed Natural Gas Pilot Project, if approved, will help the company determine if there are enough CBM reserves and water production rates to make further development economically possible.
The Hudson Group LCC of Casper is proposing to drill up to 18 exploratory CBM wells within its Scotty Lake Project Area.
The test wells would be drilled in three phases over a period of three years, according to company plans. Four wells would be drilled this year, six next year, and eight wells in 2006.
The pilot project area encompasses about 2,880 acres of federal surface lands. It is located approximately 45 miles northwest of Wamsutter in eastern Sweetwater County.
Federal officials evaluated the proposal and a no-action scenario in an Environmental Assessment released this week for public review.
The document said the wells would be drilled to test the potential of the coal beds within the Fort Union Formation at depths of up to 5,000 feet.
There are currently three producing CBM wells in the project area. The wells were drilled from previously abandoned well bores by Hudson in 2002 and were successfully completed in the formation, the assessment said.
The project would include the construction of about five miles of new access road and about 13 miles of gas collection pipelines. The productive life of the wells is estimated between 15 and 25 years. The wells would be drilled on a 160-acre spacing pattern.
Produced water from the wells would be disposed of by surface discharge into nearby drainages such as Red Creek.
The assessment said the project would result in the removal of about 10,000 barrels of water per day from the Fort Union Formation. The aquifer would be expected to naturally recharge over time.
The Great Divide Basin has been the subject of much exploratory CBM work in recent years, particularly within the Atlantic Rim area. Industry analysts believe the CBM boom in southwest Wyoming will be slower than in the Powder River Basin.
Southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino can be reached at 307-875-5359 or gearino@trib.com. |
