SBIR Phase II: The Use of Halophytic Plants and Fish for the Bioremediation of Coal Bed Methane Discharge Waters

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a process that uses halophytic plants and aquaculture effluent to treat highly saline coal bed methane (CBM) discharge water. Vast volumes of water are a necessary though unwanted byproduct of the gas drilling process. The saline discharge is widely viewed as an environmental liability. Discharges into streams are essentially forbidden, while indiscriminant surface discharge causes soil salination. Prior Phase I work has shown that halophytic plants may be successful in sequestering significant amounts of sodium when irrigated with CBM discharge waters. This Phase II project will confirm Phase I greenhouse data with field trials of plants irrigated with CBM water and fish effluent when compared with controls under otherwise normal farming practices. Soil impacts and tilth will also be examined in great detail. The commercial application of this project will be to alleviate the negative impact of CBM discharges on the environment in Wyoming, and to open up huge areas of land for responsible CBM exploration and recovery.