Environmental Science, 10th Edition (Cunningham)

Chapter 19: Conventional Energy

GE Exercise: Jonah Gas Field, Coal Bed Methane

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Latitude/Longitude: 42.4612, -109.715

Overview: Jonah Gas Field, Coal Bed Methane, p. 437

This is an example of coal bed methane extraction, as described in the What Do You Think? box in your textbook. It is located south of Pinedale, Wyoming, in the Upper Green River Basin. It is the site of the largest and longest large mammal migration route in the lower 48 states. Some 50,000 pronghorn antelope and 10,000 elk migrate each year into this basin between the Wind River Range to the east and the Salt River Range to the west.

Because methane doesn't migrate easily through the geologic formations, wells have to be drilled close together to extract the gas. The 3,100 wells proposed for this 30,000 acre project are projected to disturb two-thirds of the land surface. Each well pad occupies only about 1 hectare of land, but the spider web of connecting roads and pipelines disturbs a large area. This project also creates a brown cloud of dust and air pollution from disturbed soil, truck traffic, and pumping and drilling operations.

1
What are the white spots in this aerial view?
A)Missile silos
B)Helicopter pads
C)Emergency bunkers
D)Well pads
E)Capped mines
2
Why are they arranged in a rectilinear array?
A)The rectilinear array helps form a reliable defensive shield in case of attack.
B)The rectilinear array ensures ample landing spots for helicopters carrying heavy extraction machinery.
C)The bunkers are to be used by the families of corporate owners in an emergency.
D)The rectilinear array optimizes gas extraction.
E)Older mines were dug in a rectilinear pattern to ensure sufficient exploratory coverage of the region.
3
Why are they connected like beads on a string?
A)Military regulations require a specific distance between locations.
B)It makes it look cooler from above.
C)A vast semi-underground network connects the emergency bunkers.
D)Service roads connect the locations, collectively appearing like beads on a string when seen from above.
E)Much of the old mine network collapsed, sometimes creating unusual patterns on the ground.
4
Why do some of the white dots have black spots in them?
A)The black spots are the tips of the missiles.
B)The black spots are oil leaks from helicopter engines.
C)The black spots are piles of recently delivered supplies for the living quarters.
D)The black spots are oily waste ponds left from well drilling.
E)The black spots are sites where the old mines were not completely capped.
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