Some people argue that the Powder River Basin's coal-bed methane industry has yielded as much animosity as it has riches.

Now the Wyoming state geologist believes bad feelings might be eased if there were a moratorium on coal-bed methane development in two specific areas.

Proposed development in the Clear Creek and Crazy Woman drainages in Johnson and Sheridan counties is projected to produce an abundance of water for the amount of gas it would produce. The Wyoming State Geological Survey recently published analysis of water-to-gas ratios in the industry, and recommended the industry at least temporarily forego development there.

"A moratorium on (coal-bed methane) wells in the Clear Creek and Crazy Woman Creek drainages would save 3.3 billion barrels (130 billion gallons) of water over the remaining life of the gas play," the Geological Survey reported in summary of its analysis.

More than 4 billion barrels of groundwater have been pumped through coal-bed methane wells and dumped on the surface in the Powder River Basin, according to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Pumping water from the coal aquifer reduces the hydrostatic pressure that keeps the gas in place, and allows the gas to flow to production wells.

John Robitaille, vice president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, noted that the state engineer recently recognized a water-to-gas ratio he deems necessary to justify beneficial use of the water resource.

"If the state engineer reviews them and believes they are not necessary, he has authority to shut those wells in," Robitaille said. "It is better suited to be handled in the state engineer's office."