Coal-bed methane

Coal Bed Methane Natural gas found in most coal deposits Similar to natural gas Created from buried plant material which was converted to coal by the pressure of being underground When the coal seam is drilled and the water is pumped out, the gas begins to flow Usually pure or ‘sweet’ gas and requires little processing

Problems Adds Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere Contaminates drinking water supplies such as aquifers the industry’s biggest problem is managing the volume of water, often with a high sodium content, that must be extracted before coal-bed gas begins to flow Can remove water by truck and re-inject into spent gas wells but must be kept isolated from potential ground water zones