FBC Coal Bed Methane in a Nutshell

	Coal Bed Methane Extraction in a Nutshell

Home Transboundary Issues

What Does BP's Coalbed Methane Project Mean to the Transboundary Flathead?

"Before picture" This is the way the British Columbia Flathead is today.
© H. Locke Click here for 3.6 version of this image
Before

The Flathead sits at the center of the Crown of the Continent, a geographic crossroads where an abundance of plant and animal species from the arctic, desert, high plains, and Pacific coast converge, mix and flourish.

The Flathead can still boast to have all its original wildlife. The diversity of life found here is stunning.

The same continental influences contribute to our wealth of wild flowers. No other place in North America harbors the same diversity of flowering plants.

Enter, British Petroleum America Inc.'s Proposal for Full-Scale Coalbed Methane Development in the Flathead and Elk Rivers of British Columbia Starting 2008

EXPLORATION PHASE
BP proposes 50 Coal Bed methane exploration wells over 3-5 years, which means building roads.

This is a different threat then the Open Pit Coal mining proposal often referred to as "Cline Mine". There are two proposed mine sites. One site is at Fossey Creek and another at Cabin Creek, which is just 6 miles north on the border. Presently, coal mining in the Flathead is under review.

The coal bed methane threat by British Petroleum is eminent.

Road Building in Elk Valley for Coal Bed Methane pads.

British Petroleum will build new roads - main roads and individual access roads to each well
Click here for the 3.2 jpg image

Aerial photo of EnCana's test well pads in neighboring Elk Valley.

Click here for British Petroleum's internal map of what they expect the road and pad system will be for Coal Bed Methane Extraction. Click here for 1.9 mb .pdf map

Click here for the 8 mb image

Each well pad has down-hole pump, water-gas separator, gas flares, sump pits for drilling waste.

These things stay until the well site is abondoned as many are in the Elk Valley.