B.C. First Nation draws line on coalbed methane development

Gary Park

Petroleum News Calgary correspondent

The message is clear to those who have any notion of applying U.S. methods to developing coalbed methane in northeastern British Columbia: Forget it.

The West Moberly First Nation, after taking a first-hand look at the environmental impact of coalbed methane plays in Colorado and Wyoming, has issued a warning notice to “all parties.”

It has told them to pay heed to the community’s claims to almost 5,000 acres about 50 miles southwest of Fort St. John and the combined lands of the Treaty 8 First Nations covering 55,000 acres.

A spokesman for West Moberly said the U.S. experience shows that water use is extreme, development density is 16 to 20 times greater than conventional gas projects and the Native rights to hunt, fish and trap would be greatly impacted.

In a public notice document, West Moberly said coalbed methane is a “separate energy resource” from conventional gas and is not covered by the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission.