The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Coal bed methane (CBM) is a natural gas contained in coal seams. Methane gas is formed during coalification, the transformation of plant material into coal. Also called coal seam gas, CBM is usually not found in the atmosphere until it is released during coal mining. The gas released during mining is called coal mine methane (CMM).
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 88 billion cubic feet of CMM can provide electricity to more than 1.2 million homes for a year. CBM is another source of methane, which is also used to heat buildings.
At the start of the twenty-first century, CBM drilling was underway in states such as New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. The gas is often located in aquifers, porous rock that contains water. Gas is obtained by pumping thousands of gallons of water out of a CBM well.
This process could negatively affect the environment because groundwater frequently contains salt and other minerals. Removed water is reinjected into the ground in New Mexico and Colorado. Reinjection is not always possible, which brings more environmental concerns. In 2002, Montana residents worried that groundwater released into rivers and streams could hurt crops, wildlife, and drinking water.