With more than 3,500 active coalbed-methane (CBM) wells in the Raton Basin of southern Colorado, Pioneer Natural Resources and other CBM operators and Tetra Tech Inc. have initiated a watershed evaluation and monitoring program in the producing part of the basin. “We’re looking at the big-picture effect of gas development in a regional watershed with a science-based evaluation of the area,” said Jerry Jacob, environmental advisor, Pioneer Natural Resources, at a December 2010 Colorado Oil & Gas Association brown bag session.

Jacob and geochemist Bruce Marshall of Tetra Tech Inc. ...