System And Method For Dispersing Of Coal Bed Sodic Water

Abstract

A method for designing and implementing a system for subsurface drip irrigation dispersal of sodic water from a coal bed seam, the method comprising calculating a land surface area below which the sodic water dispersal system is to be placed, determining a concentration of total dissolved solids contained in the sodic water and in the aquifer ground water beneath the land surface area, developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no more than five hundred percent. Installing the sodic water dispersal system in the land area in accordance with the developed system configuration and pumping sodic water from the coal bed into the configured dispersal system in accordance with the developed dispersal sequence.

1 . A method for dispersing of sodic water collected from a coal bed seam, the method comprising: 
 obtaining sodic water from the coal bed seam;    off-gassing volatile organics from the sodic water;    filtering the sodic water;    pumping the filtered sodic water into at least one lateral with at least one emitter attached thereto; and,    selectably sequencing the release of the sodic water into the soil from the at least one lateral and emitter.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral and emitter are disposed in the ground at a depth below the frost line.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral and emitter are disposed at between 10 and 60 inches below grade.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selectably sequencing the release of the sodic water into the soil from the at least one lateral and emitter comprises controlling the duration of the release.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral and at least one emitter comprise at least one zone.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one lateral and emitter include a plurality of laterals and emitters to define a plurality of zones.  
     
     
         7 . A method for subsurface dispersal of sodic water extracted from a coal bed seam, the method comprising: 
 calculating a land surface area below which the sodic water dispersal system is to be placed;    determining a concentration of total dissolved solids contained in the sodic water;    determining a concentration of total dissolved solids in the aquifer disposed proximate the land surface area;    developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of total dissolved solids in the aquifer to no greater than five hundred percent;    installing the sodic water dispersal system in the land area in accordance with the developed system configuration; and    transferring sodic water from the coal bed seam into the configured dispersal system in accordance with the developed dispersal sequence.    
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no more than five hundred percent further comprises estimating the infiltration rate and permeability characteristics for each vadose zone horizon to determine the impact upon recharge of the aquifer ground water by the sodic water.  
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of the total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no greater than five hundred percent further comprises segregating the system into one or more zones wherein each zone may be individually operated for sodic water dispersal.  
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of the total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no greater than five hundred percent further comprises determining the type of vegetation disposed upon the land area.  
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of the total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no greater than five hundred percent further comprises determining the impact of the annual effective precipitation rate upon land area water needs.  
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of developing a sodic water dispersal system configuration and dispersal sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of the total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no greater than five hundred percent further comprises determining the depth to the frost line.  
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the dispersal system configuration comprises at least one lateral and one emitter operably coupled to a pump.  
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the sodic water dispersal sequence comprises the time based delivery of a specified quantity of sodic water to the at least one lateral and at least one emitter.  
     
     
         15 . A method for subsurface dispersal of sodic water from a coal bed seam, the method comprising: 
 estimating the volume of sodic water requiring dispersal;    calculating the land area for dispersal of the sodic water;    evaluating the climatic conditions and vegetation options of the land area;    analyzing the concentration of the total dissolved solids in the sodic water and in the aquifer ground water;    estimating the infiltration rate and permeability characteristics of each horizon of the vadose zone; and,    determining a dispersal system configuration and flow sequence that limits the increase in the concentration of total dissolved solids in the aquifer ground water to no greater than five hundred percent.    
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the step of evaluating the climatic conditions and vegetation options of the land area comprises: 
 determining the length of the growing season;    determining the normal annual effective precipitation;    determining the evapotranspiration for the resident vegetation; and    determining the depth to the frost line in the soil.    
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the system configuration comprises the location, sizing and spacing of the at least one lateral and at least one emitter secured to the lateral.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of determining a dispersal system configuration further comprises determining the sodic water volume, land area, climatic conditions, vegetation options, concentrations of total dissolved solids, infiltration and permeability rates.  
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the sodic water dispersal sequence comprises the sequencing of the delivery of the sodic water to the at least one laterals and at least one emitter.  
     
     
         20 . A method for dispersing sodic water, the method comprising: 
 positioning a plurality of laterals and emitters segregated into independently operable zones at predetermined depths below grade in a lateral and emitter system;    positioning a plurality of sensors into the soil in proximity to the lateral and emitter system zones to determine the temperature, moisture content and salinity of the soil in each zone;    developing a wetting pattern based upon the temperature, moisture content and salinity of the soil; and,    utilizing a sequence and rate controller to operably communicate with a pump to direct transfer of the sodic water from a storage area to the lateral and emitter system in accordance with the predetermined wetting pattern to optimally moisten the subsurface soil to promote a continuing downwardly migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, thereby cleansing the soil above the freezing front of accumulated salts and effectively dispersing the accumulated sodic water.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature probe comprises a thermometer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the moisture probe is selected from the group consisting of granular matrix sensors, capacitance probes, time domain reflectometry devices and densitometers.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the salinity probe comprises a conductivity bridge.  
     
     
         24 . A system for the dispersal of sodic water, comprising: 
 a plurality of zones, each zone including at least one lateral and at least one emitter, the at least one lateral and at least one emitter disposed below grade for facilitating the flow rate of sodic water into each zone, so as to be individually controlled;    at least one pump for transferring the sodic water from a storage area to each zone; and,    at least one of each of a temperature probe, moisture probe and salinity probe disposed within the soil to determine soil conditions and to promote development of a wetting pattern that facilitates downwardly extending movement of soil salts deposited by the sodic water away from the zone of roots of plants during the period of a downwardly advancing frost line.    
     
     
         25 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 24 , additionally comprising: a controller in electronic communication with the at least one pump and the at least one moisture probe for controlling the wetting pattern by pumping time and the quantity of sodic water flow from one or more zones.  
     
     
         26 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 25 , wherein the controller receives signals from the at least one salinity probe corresponding to measurements of the salinity of the soil proximate the plant root system and controls pumping of sodic water from the at least one pump.  
     
     
         27 . A system for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and for cleansing the root zone soil of accumulated salts during periods of soil freezing, the system comprising: 
 at least one of a subsurface lateral including at least one emitter; and,    a pump for transferring sodic water from a storage area to the at least one lateral to moisten the subsurface soil and promote a downwardly extending migration of salts in advance of a freezing front, thereby cleansing the root zone soil above the freezing front of accumulated salts and contemporaneously dispersing sodic water accumulated in the storage area.    
     
     
         28 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one lateral and at least one emitter comprise a plurality of laterals and emitters forming a lateral and emitter zone.  
     
     
         29 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one lateral and at least one emitter are disposed at least 10 inches below surface grade.  
     
     
         30 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one lateral and at least one emitter are disposed at least below a projected frost line.  
     
     
         31 . A system for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and for maintaining soil productivity and improving the resistance of resident vegetation to drought, the system comprising: 
 at least one of a subsurface lateral;    at least one subsurface emitter;    a pump in communication with the at least one subsurface lateral and the at least one subsurface emitter, and a storage area for holding sodic water; and    a controller for controlling the pump sequence and flow rate of the pump based upon a specified set of soil parameters received by the controller from sensors positioned within the area in which the sodic water is to be pumped, the controller in electronic communication with the pump, such that the pump transfers the sodic water from a storage area to the at least one lateral and the at least one emitter to optimally moisten the subsurface soil to promote a continuing downwardly migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, and cleanse the soil above the freezing front of accumulated salts and operably promoting dispersal of accumulated sodic water.    
     
     
         32 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 31 , wherein the sensors include sensors for detecting soil parameters selected from the group consisting of soil electrical conductivity, hydrostatic soil pressure gradients, soil temperature and solute concentration.  
     
     
         33 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein the sensors include sensors for determining soil temperatures, for detecting the freezing front as a downwardly advancing region of frozen soil resulting from prolonged exposure of the soil to ambient air temperatures at or below the freezing point of the moisture in the soil.  
     
     
         34 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein the sequence and rate controller includes a computer including a processor programmed for running a sequence of instructions for perably manipulating the soil parameter data obtained from the sensors for detecting soil parameters, available volume of sodic water, linear length of laterals, cross sectional area of laterals and number of emitters, to determine the required pump flow rate and sequencing of pump operation.  
     
     
         35 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein the sequence and rate controller is configured to be manually controllable for the appropriate pump flow rate and pump operation sequencing based upon soil parameter data, available volume of sodic water, linear length of laterals, cross sectional area of laterals and number of emitters to determine the required pump flow rate and sequencing of pump operation.  
     
     
         36 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein the sensors for detecting soil parameters include transducers.  
     
     
         37 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein the sensors for detecting soil parameters include a temperature probe.  
     
     
         38 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein sensors for detecting soil parameters including electrical conductivity of the soil include a conductivity probe.  
     
     
         39 . A sodic water dispersal system as in  claim 32 , wherein sensors for detecting soil parameters including solute concentration include a conductivity probe.  
     
     
         40 . A method for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and cleansing the soil of accumulated salts, the method comprising: 
 installing at least one subsurface lateral, at least one subsurface emitter, and at least one pump;    evaluating the local soil parameters;    selecting a sodic water flow rate based upon soil parameters;    engaging at least one pump to deliver sodic water from a storage area to the at least one subsurface lateral and at least one emitter;    moistening the soil proximate the at least one emitter to promote a downwardly extending migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, to cleanse the soil of accumulated salts as the freezing front downwardly advances.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein installing at least one subsurface lateral and at least one subsurface emitter, includes placing the at least one subsurface lateral, and the at least one subsurface emitter below the frost line.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein moistening the soil includes moistening the soil such that it is field moist.  
     
     
         43 . A method for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and for maintaining soil productivity, the method comprising: 
 installing at least one of a subsurface lateral, at least one subsurface emitter, and at least one pump;    providing a controller in electronic communication with the pump;    evaluating the resident soil parameters;    selecting a flow rate and pump sequence based upon soil parameters;    providing data of the selected flow rate and pump sequence to the controller; and, causing the controller to operably communicate with the pump to deliver sodic water from a storage area to the at least one subsurface lateral and the at least one emitter, to optimally moisten the subsurface soil to promote a continuing downward migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, to cleanse the soil of accumulated salts as the freezing front advances downward.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein installing at least one subsurface lateral and at least one subsurface emitter, includes placing the at least one subsurface lateral, and the at least one subsurface emitter below the frost line.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein moistening the soil includes moistening the soil such that it is field moist.  
     
     
         46 . A method for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and for maintaining soil productivity, the method comprising: 
 installing at least one lateral and at least one emitter, in communication with a pump that is in communication with a source of sodic water below ground and below a projected frost line; and,    creating a cap to define a downwardly moving freezing front to cleanse the soil of accumulated salts by pumping a predetermined volume of sodic water through the emitter when the soil is unfrozen.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the pumping a predetermined volume of sodic water includes pumping a predetermined volume of sodic water to render the area that the sodic water is being used to irrigate moist to field moist.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the predetermined volume of sodic water to be pumped is determined in accordance with the salinity of the soil in the area that the sodic water is being used to irrigate.  
     
     
         49 . A system for dispersing sodic water extracted from coal bed seams and for maintaining soil productivity, the method comprising: 
 at least one lateral, at least one subsurface emitter, and at least one pump; and,    a controller in electronic communication with the at least one pump, the controller programmed to:    evaluate the resident soil parameters;    select a flow rate and pump sequence based upon the resident soil parameters; and,    cause the pump to deliver sodic water from a storage area to the at least one subsurface lateral and the at least one emitter, to optimally moisten the subsurface soil to promote a continuing downward migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, to cleanse the soil of accumulated salts as the freezing front advances downward.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the controller programmed to cause the pump to deliver sodic water additionally includes pumping a predetermined volume of sodic water to render the area that the sodic water is being used to irrigate moist to field moist.  
     
     
         51 . A computer-usable storage medium having a computer program embodied thereon for causing a suitable programmed system to control pumping parameters by performing the following steps when such program is executed on the system: 
 evaluating the resident soil parameters;    selecting a flow rate and pump sequence based upon the resident soil parameters; and,    causing a the pump to deliver sodic water from a storage area to at least one subsurface lateral and at least one emitter, to optimally moisten the subsurface soil to promote a continuing downward migration of solutes disposed within the soil in advance of a freezing front, to cleanse the soil of accumulated salts as the freezing front advances downward.    
     
     
         52 . The computer-usable storage medium of  claim 51 , wherein the step of causing the pump to deliver sodic water additionally includes pumping a predetermined volume of sodic water to render the area that the sodic water is being used to irrigate moist to field moist.