ABSTRACT

The potential recovery of coal seam gas has raised a series of environmental concerns. The majority of these concerns are similar to those associated with conventional oil and gas. Included are: surface disturbance, spacing of wells, emissions, and produced water disposal.

The geology of the producing basins in the United States is similar to that of the Alberta basin. Since the impacts are a function of the surficial and subsurface geology, a strong analogy between the U.S. experience and the Canadian experience can be made. The current environmental practices and regulations governing coal bed methane production in the United States are examined. Existing Alberta conventional oil and gas regulations are compared.

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It appears that coal bed methane development in Alberta will not require additional regulations and will not be worse, and possibly environmentally more friendly, than conventional oil and gas recovery.

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