A new study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that claims by environmentalist groups that technology used to extract natural gas from coalbed methane (CBM) wells could contaminate groundwater in the West are “completely unfounded.”

That finding was pulled from a multi-year study that reviewed the geology of 11 major coal basins, analyzed over 200 peer-reviewed studies, interviewed more than 50 industry specialists and state officials and analyzed complaints and input from over 40 citizens and environmental groups. The EPA concluded that “injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into coalbed methane (CBM) wells poses little or no threat” to underground sources of drinking water (USDWs).

The study examined the potential threat to USDWs from “hydraulic fracturing” or “frac’ing,” which entails the high-pressure injection of fluid (mostly water and gel) and sand into a producing formation to create conduits for the migration of natural gas to a wellbore. As the frac fluid flows back to the well, the sand remains in place to prop open the fractures.

The EPA noted that CBM wells are generally shallower than conventional oil and gas wells, and the coal seams are in closer proximity to USDWs. However, the agency also found that some coal seams even produce water that meets drinking water standards. Thousands of CBM wells are frac’d annually.

“EPA reviewed incidents of drinking water well contamination believed to be associated with hydraulic fracturing and found no confirmed cases that are linked to fracturing fluid injection into CBM wells or subsequent movement of fracturing fluids,” according to the report’s findings. “EPA has concluded that additional or further study is not warranted at this time.”

Ken Wonstolen of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association said that anecdotal reports of water well contamination related to hydraulic fracturing invariably turn out to involve the formation of a foul-smelling iron sulfide slime by anaerobic bacteria. Nevertheless, the three primary hydraulic fracturing service companies agreed to adopt a proactive step voluntarily to eliminate the use of diesel as a frac fluid additive for CBM wells, he said.

“This study vindicates the use of a well completion technique that is vital to providing secure, clean-burning supplies of domestic natural gas to American consumers,” said Wonstolen.

Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, said “This is a prime example why it is so important to utilize sound science and ignore idle chatter from obstructionist groups. Hydraulic fracturing is a vital component in our industry’s struggle to meet the growing demand for natural gas.”

Prior to 1997, the EPA said it had not considered regulating hydraulic fracturing because it believed that this well production stimulation process did not fall under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program’s control, nor under the jurisdiction of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In 1994, the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation (LEAF) challenged that interpretation because LEAF believed the State of Alabama should regulate hydraulic fracturing for coalbed methane development as underground injection. In 1997, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that hydraulic fracturing of coalbeds in Alabama should be regulated under the SDWA as underground injection. The state was required to modify its UIC program, and in December 1999, EPA approved this revision.

The EPA said the study was borne after it had contacted and been contacted by citizens who expressed concern that practices associated with methane gas production from coalbeds has resulted in contamination of USDWs. To view the study, visit https://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/cbmstudy.html.

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