LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- May 20, 2008
Editor;
A community meeting on May 28th will be considering the environmental and social impacts of any proposal to extract coalbed methane in this area. We have much to consider. The environmental footprint of extraction of gas from coal deposits is much larger than that of conventional natural gas extraction.
First, vast quantities of water must be extracted from coal deposits in order to allow recoverable gas to be displaced, and this water, along with accompanying salts, hydrocarbons and minerals must be held or disposed of.
Secondly, each developed well is low yield, and in order to efficiently extract gas reserves, multiple wells are required, each with its own infrastructure of roads, pipelines, powerlines and compressors.
Water produced from gas extraction is a primary concern. It seems likely that this water may come from fairly superficial sources in this area. Coal seams will be subject to fracturing by injection of fluids, solids and chemicals to allow for more low-pressure pathways for water flow and recovery and, eventually, for gas flow.
Nobody knows what this process does to the water table supplying existing wells, but it seems more than coincidental that some domestic wells disappear or become contaminated at the same time that there is nearby gas exploration or drilling activity. The extracted water may be relatively pure or may contain quantities of salts, metals (some of them toxic) and hydrocarbons (some of them toxic and mutagenic).
Incredibly, the BC Environmental Management Act still allows the streambed or watercourse disposal of these produced waters, which is the cheapest option. The expensive option, which is re-injection into a suitable deeper ground formation, removes this large volume of water from the aquifer. The void left in the superficial coal layer by removal of water and gas simply fills again with water from elsewhere in the aquifer, aided by the new pathways created by the fracturing process.
Nobody knows how quickly the water table will be depleted or contaminated, and any studies done on water quality and quantity are done by people hired by industry, not by government. There will be no time for the recommended 3 year lead time for water table study and evaluation prior to development of the resource. There will be no time to reflect upon whether a modest boost to the economy is a good tradeoff for a vanishing water table at a time when a warmer climate may make water more valuable than fuel.
Efficient and profitable extraction of coalbed methane requires a high density of wells, sometimes exceeding 1 every 80 acres. The Oil and Gas Commission, which oversees permitting, grants licenses on a well-by-well basis without consideration given to the impact of the required infrastructure on wildlife, agriculture, vegetation and social structures. The well site and operations can be developed on private land without landowner consent.
Before wells become profitable they can be subject to occasional venting with atmospheric release of methane, which contributes 20-fold more to climate change than does carbon dioxide. Early production wells are also subject to flaring of non-economic quantities of gas, again contributing to ongoing climate change. Wells in production will need pumps for water and compressors for delivery to the pipeline system or storage. Resulting noise is disruptive to both people and wildlife.
The Oil and Gas Commission bears responsibility for regulation of the industry in BC. Recently, a new Oil and Gas Activities Act has been tabled; however it seems that BC is determined to trail far behind other jurisdictions in terms of both regulation and enforcement. The Commission is largely dependent on funding from the industry which it regulates through charges for permits and other services.
Funding is less difficult if the industry prospers, therefore there is less incentive to close down operations for gross infractions. A system of self-audited rules is probably insufficient to keep the oil and gas industry in line. Two-thirds of the inspections done in 2004 revealed breach of regulations. Actual enforcement seems to go to other government departments, with any fines going to general revenue. This is not a good recipe for a well-regulated industry.
The people of Princeton made it clear that they did not welcome coalbed methane extraction near their community in 2004. There does not seem to have been an outpouring of support for the same proposal in 2008, but it seems that the wheels of development are in motion again.
We are not adequately protected by Provincial regulation. Regional District has been silent. Town Council seems to be waiting for something.
Many other communities in BC have opposed this process with success. If we continue to consume their fossil fuels and do nothing, the industry will respond to our demands and extract the product in our back yard.
If we insulate our houses, reduce demand, and lobby to preserve our community and our environment, they may just go away again. Perhaps if we continue to make the right energy choices in the future they might never come back.
Sincerely,
Myrna and John Bosomworth, Princeton
