Is there Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in North Dakota?
No producing CBM wells have yet been sited in North Dakota. The extent of CBM deposits in North Dakota is unknown, although there are large deposits of lignite coal throughout the central and western parts of the state. Several exploratory wells have been drilled in Slope County, but they have been capped, and no production has begun Is CBM leasing going on in North Dakota? Federal leasing in western North Dakota, especially McKenzie County, increased dramatically beginning about two years ago. A Bismarck company secured a number of contiguous leases from private mineral owners near Beach in Golden Valley County about a year ago. The company said they were for CBM exploration. However, any new or existing conventional oil and gas leases could also be used to drill for CBM unless the mineral owners have specified no CBM drilling. Is North Dakota adequately protected against damages from CBM wells? Probably not. Anticipating CBM development, the 2001 North Dakota State Legislature acted
