Abstract
Coalbed methane (CBNG) extraction is facilitated by pumping water from the aquifer. The majority of CBNG produced water is discharged into disposal ponds. The objective of this study was to examine the geochemistry of CBNG produced water in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Water samples from outfalls and corresponding disposal ponds in Cheyenne River (CHR), Belle Fourche River (BFR), Little Powder River (LPR), Powder River (PR), and Tongue River (TR) within the Powder River Basin (PRB) were collected over a period of three years. CBNG produced samples were monitored pH, electrical conductivity (EC), major elements [e.g., calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), alkalinity], trace elements [e.g., iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), arsenic (As), selenium (Se)]. From Na, Ca, and Mg measurements, sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) were calculated. Results suggest that Na, alkalinity, and pH all tend to increase, possibly due to environmental factors such as evaporation, while Ca decreased from outfalls to corresponding disposal ponds due to calcite precipitation. Trace elements concentrations in both outfalls and disposal ponds were below the discharge limit, however an increasing trend was observed in disposal ponds. Overall, these results are useful to develop management approaches for CBNG produced water and reclamation of disposal ponds. Additional
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