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Show 50 Energy Guide March 2004 Coal bed methane's share of Utah gas reserves climbs During the last decade, methane recovered from deep coal beds has become a significant part of Utah's natural gas supply and reserves. The United States Energy Information Administration reports that, in 2000, coal bed gas made up about 35 percent of Utah's 4.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural reserves. Therefore, the methane, once regarded as mainly a safety hazard for underground coal mines, has been transformed from a poorly understood resource to a major new source of natural gas in the state and across the nation, points out the Utah Geological Survey office. The improved understanding of coal bed regas was fostered by government-fundesearch and tax credits during the 1970s and 1980s that helped petroleum companies d well-completi- develop new techniques to recover the once unconventional gas resource. Exploration for coal bed gas in Utah and Castle Valley started in the early 1980s. However, the first significant production began in 1992. The earliest exploration tested the gas resources of coals in parts of two formations near Price - the Blackhawk formation and the Ferron sandstone member of mancos shale. The coals of the Ferron sandstone have become the major coal bed gas producing area of Utah. By 2001, Anadarko Petroleum Corpora- tion, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Phillips Petroleum Company and Texaco Ex- ploration and Production Company had over 490 wells producing coal bed gas from the Ferron strata. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining A s gas well drilling operation pumps coal bed methreports that the wells provided more than 28 percent ane from a field in Castle Valley. The 62,000 acre Blackhawk trend of the state's 2001 gas production, an in- could contain about 500 Bcf of recoverable gas reserves, accordcrease from the 25.6 percent produced in ing to the Utah Geological Survey. Conoco-Phillip- 2000. Recently released environmental impact statements indicate that the Ferron trend could have 800 to 900 gas wells in production within the next five years, which will probably double the amount of gas currently produced. Originally the coal bed gas wells were proved understanding of the nature of the gas reservoirs, gained from testing during the early life of the first wells, indicates that the original productivity estimates are likely conservative. Within the Ferron trend, the Drunkards Wash field is currently one of largest gas producers in Utah. Drunkards Wash will likely be the most productive gas field in the state when the area becomes fully developed by about 2005. While the Ferron trend has been the key area helping to maintain Utah's gas productivity levels in recent years, other coal fields in the state are also attracting company exploration efforts. The Blackhawk formation coals of the Book Cliffs have an exploration history as long as the Ferron trend. However, more problematic water disposal and issues have stalled production from the Book Cliffs area. In 2000, a joint venture by J.M. Huber Corporation and Patina Oil and Gas Corporation began revitalizing the dormant Castle Gate project. After producing coal bed methane gas from 1994 through 1997, the wells drilled for the Castle Gate project were plugged and abandoned by Anadarko Petroleum Company at the start of 1998. However, Huber and Patina started redrilling the 25 original wells and the companies listed the proved reserves for the Castle Gate project as 27.5 Bcf of gas. The production from the Castle Gate field was 0.14 Bcf in 2000, when six wells were operating. Production dramatically increases as more wells are activated on a field. The 62,000 acre Blackhawk trend could contain about 500 Bcf of recoverable gas reserves, noted the Utah Geological Survey. The estimated level of production would provide adequate gas to supply 500,000 Utah resident's needs for about 10 years. Therefore, the state's coal bed methane resources, located primary in the Castle Val- The estimated level of production would provide adequate gas to supply 500,000 Utah residents needs for about 10 years. Thus, the states coal bed methane resources, located primary in the Castle Valley region, will play a major role in providing a stable gas supply for Utah residents, concluded the UGS. long-ter- m ley region, will play a major role in providing a stable long-tergas supply for Utah m projected to have a productive life of 20 years and average recoverable gas reserves of one to four Bcf. However, im residents, concluded the Utah Geological Survey office. Archeologists track coal consumption back to caveman period Coal is the most plentiful fuel in the fossil family and the natural resource has the longest and, perhaps, the most varied history. Coal has been used for heating since the cave man, confirmed recent studies. Archeologists have also found evidence that the Romans in England used it in the second and third centuries, 100 A.D. and 200 A.D. In the 1700s, the English found that coal could produce a fuel that burned cleaner and hotter than wood charcoal. However, it was the over whelming need for energy to run the new technologies invented during the Indus- trial Revolution that provided the real opportunity for coal to fill the fossil fuel's first role as a dominant worldwide supplier of energy. In North America, the used coal for Hopi Indians cooking, heating and baking clay pottery during the 1300s in what is now the United States Southwest. Coal was later rediscovered in the U.S. by explor- ers in 1673. However, commercial coal mines did not start operation until the 1740s in Virginia. The Industrial Revolution played a major role in expanding the use of coal. A man named James Watt invented the steam engine, which made it possible for machines to do work previously done by humans. Watt used coal to make the steam to run the engine. In the 1800s, one of the primary uses of coal was to fuel steam engines used to power locomotives. During the first half of the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution spread to the United States. Steamships and railroads steam-powere- d were becoming the chief forms of transportation. The steamships and steam powered railroads used coal to fuel the boilers. In the second half of the 1800s, more uses for coal were found. During the Civil War, weapons factories were beginning to use coal. By 1875, coke replaced charcoal as the primary fuel for iron blast furnaces to make steel. The burning of coal to generate electricity is a relative newcoiver in the long history of the fossil fuel. It was in the 1880s when coal was first used to generate electricity for homes and factories. Long after homes were being lighted by electricity produced by coal, many private residents continued to have furnaces for heating. The furnaces were fired by the fossil fuel and the stoves for cooking in some were fueled by coal. Today, people not only in the United States, but at locations throughout the world continue to consume significant amounts of coal. |