MEMORANDUM

TO: Record

FROM: EPA

DATE: March 8, 2013

SUBJECT: Changes to CBM Operating Status Between 2008 and 2010, DCN CBM00715

This memorandum summarizes changes in CBM operating status between 2008 and 2010 for 

projects1 that discharged produced water to surface water as of 2008. EPA reviewed information 

on operators in six of the seven discharging basins (Appalachian, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Green 

River, Powder River, and Raton) to determine whether:

• The operator is still producing CBM; and

• The operator is still producing water.

EPA did not review information for operators in the Illinois Basin because the State of Illinois 

provides very little information on oil and gas production. EPA reviewed the publicly available 

databases listed below:

• Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC, 2012) (Raton Basin): 

http://cogcc.state.co.us/

• Geological Survey of Alabama – Oil and Gas Board (GSA-OGB, 2012) (Black Warrior, 

Cahaba): http://www.gsa.state.al.us/ogb/production.aspx

• Montana Department of Natural Resource Conservation - Board of Oil and Gas 

Conservation (MT DCNR-BOGC, 2012) (Powder River): 

http://www.bogc.dnrc.mt.gov/WebApps/DataMiner/Production/ProdAnnualOperGas.asp

x

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR, 2012)

(Appalachian): http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/cbm/ofreport1101.aspx

• West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP, 2012) (Appalachian): 

https://apps.dep.wv.gov/oog/wellsearch_new.cfm

• Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WYOGCC, 2012) (Powder River, 

Green River): http://wogcc.state.wy.us/

Operator Changes

For the existing source analysis, EPA wanted to determine the most recent operating status of the 

74 direct discharging projects that were identified in the Detailed Questionnaire as dischargers in 

 1 EPA defined project as a well, group of wells, lease, group of leases, or some other recognized unit that the 

establishment operates as an economic unit when making production decision.
Memorandum

March 8, 2013

Page 2

2008.2

 EPA determined that seven of the 74 direct discharging projects were no longer 

producing either CBM or water in 2010. EPA did not include these projects in the existing 

source analysis. Table 1 summarizes the key changes and whether the operator was included in 

EPA’s existing source analysis. 

Table 1. 2010 CBM Data Review Findings for Surface Discharging Projects

Operator 

Name 2010 Findings Existing Source Analysis

Green River (Wyoming)

Pioneer Project was temporarily abandoned according 

to non-CBI screener comment. Colorado 

website showed no production for 2010.

Assumed this project is shut 

in (no longer operating). Not 

included in analysis.

Powder River Basin (Wyoming)

DNR No CBM or water production reported in 2010 

or later; no change in operator.

Assumed this project is shut 

in. Not included in analysis.

Duncan Oil No CBM or water production reported in 2010 

or later; no change in operator. 

Assumed this project is shut 

in. Not included in analysis.

Hilcorp No CBM or water production reported in 2010 

or later; no change in operator.

Assumed this project is shut 

in. Not included in analysis.

Merit Energy

(2 projects)

Producing from some Powder River Wyoming 

wells, but many wells have been acquired by 

Langley Energy (through Saga Petroleum) and 

Atomic Oil and Gas. Saga shut in the wells and 

Langley has not started producing from those 

wells as of early 2012. The wells retained by 

Merit Energy are no longer (2010 and later) 

producing water. 

Not included in the analysis 

because there is no water 

production or the acquired 

projects are assumed shut in.

Peabody 

Natural Gas

No CBM or water production reported in 2010 

or later; no change in operator.

Assumed this project is shut 

in. Not included in analysis.

 2 See the Technical Development Document for the Coalbed Methane Industry ((EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0824, DCN: 

CBM00669) and Economic Assessment for Existing and New Projects in the Coalbed Methane Industry (EPA-HQOW-2010-0824, DCN: CBM00680) for more information about EPA’s analyses.