A method and apparatus useful for disposing of the high volumes of produced water associated with coal bed methane natural gas wells. The method taught is to create steam from the produced water and vent the steam into the atmosphere. The apparatus taught utilizes available heat energy sources to produce heat for enhancing water evaporation rates and may incorporate a pre-heater system and/or a mineral separation system.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/822,497, filed Apr. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,238 by Weldon Walker.
