Strontium isotopes as indicators of aquifer communication in an area of coal-bed natural gas production, Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana

摘要

Development of the coal-bed natural gas resource of the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana has proceeded rapidly, from fewer than 200 wells in 1995 to more than 22,000 wells in 2007. Continued development of this resource will depend on minimization of water production during gas recovery as well as responsible use of the produced water. Ideally, water should be withdrawn only from isolated coal aquifers to prevent any unnecessary water withdrawal from overlying or underlying aquifers. This study uses the ratio of 87Sr/86Sr of ground water to identify hydraulically isolated coal seams. The ratio of 87Sr/86Sr of ground water represents a time-integrated record of water–rock interaction, such that water from aquifers composed of different rocks may acquire different Sr isotopic ratios.