The Powder River Structural Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana is an important source of energy resources for the United States. Resources developed from the basin include coal, oil, uranium, conventional natural gas, and within the last decade coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) which often is referred to as coal-bed methane. As of 2008, about 20,000 CBNG wells had been drilled in northeastern Wyoming (Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2010). An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 CBNG wells could be drilled and put into production in the PRB by 2012. Throughout the PRB large volumes of groundwater are removed from coal-bed aquifers and discharged on the surface in order to recover CBNG. This groundwater, which can be slightly to moderately saline, is discharged to perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams as well as to surface impoundments. It is currently unknown what potential impacts these discharges will have on aquatic communities (fish, macroinvertebrates, and algae) and their habitats.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Assessment of ecological conditions and potential effects of water produced from coalbed natural gas development on biological communities in streams of the Powder River structural basin, Wyoming and Montana, 2005-08
Ecological assessment of streams in the Powder River Structural Basin, Wyoming and Montana, 2005-06
- Overview
The Powder River Structural Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana is an important source of energy resources for the United States. Resources developed from the basin include coal, oil, uranium, conventional natural gas, and within the last decade coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) which often is referred to as coal-bed methane. As of 2008, about 20,000 CBNG wells had been drilled in northeastern Wyoming (Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2010). An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 CBNG wells could be drilled and put into production in the PRB by 2012. Throughout the PRB large volumes of groundwater are removed from coal-bed aquifers and discharged on the surface in order to recover CBNG. This groundwater, which can be slightly to moderately saline, is discharged to perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams as well as to surface impoundments. It is currently unknown what potential impacts these discharges will have on aquatic communities (fish, macroinvertebrates, and algae) and their habitats.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Assessment of ecological conditions and potential effects of water produced from coalbed natural gas development on biological communities in streams of the Powder River structural basin, Wyoming and Montana, 2005-08
Ongoing development of coalbed natural gas in the Powder River structural basin in Wyoming and Montana led to formation of an interagency task group to address concerns about the effects of the resulting production water on biological communities in streams of the area. The interagency task group developed a monitoring plan and conducted sampling of macroinvertebrate, algal, and fish communities aEcological assessment of streams in the Powder River Structural Basin, Wyoming and Montana, 2005-06
Energy and mineral development, particularly coalbed natural gas development, is proceeding at a rapid pace in the Powder River Structural Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming. Concerns about the potential effects of development led to formation of an interagency working group of primarily Federal and State agencies to address these issues in the PRB in Wyoming and in Montana where similar types of