Mr. John Koch

-- John Koch, PMP, P.Eng., Vice President of Operations for Trident Exploration Corp -- PMP® graduate, recent Calgary class

John Koch, chief operations officer of Trident Exploration Corp., inspects the company's pioneering coalbed methane plant near Fort Assiniboine, 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Photo by GORDON JAREMKO, THE JOURNAL
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John Koch, chief operations officer of Trident Exploration Corp., inspects the company's pioneering coalbed methane plant near Fort Assiniboine, 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
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John Koch, saying "we're being watched very closely," bans talking shop on cellphones or in the local cafe.He has his field office swept for bugs regularly.His outpost communicates in code with corporate headquarters in Calgary.

As chief operating officer of Trident Exploration Corp., Koch runs a $400-million pioneering foray into a hot drilling play that company president Jon Baker calls a natural gas counterpart to the oilsands.
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But there are catches to coalbed methane, Koch and Baker said.
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While the outlines of Alberta coal bands were mapped out generations ago, there is competitive exploration and mineral rights buying to corner slices that are porous and thick enough to produce gas in commercial volumes, Koch and Baker said.
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"It's like you're pouring a few buckets in the ocean," Koch said.

Provincial water management policy targeted on coalbed methane is still evolving.The project works well within Alberta Environment regulations that have controlled briny produced water for generations in older industry branches, he said.But the high intensity of coalbed methane operations makes Trident community relations chief Kyla Fisher's role the most important job in the company, Koch said.

Fisher, a crisis counsellor recruited from outside the industry, secures local consent for the firm to operate in an area thickly studded with farms, parks, ecology reserves, rivers and wildlife that make it a northern travel destination.Her methods include frequent open houses on company plans, extensive involvement with local schools, and forming a permanent community and environmental "synergy group."

In an approach encouraged by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, the firm lets the group in on plans such as drilling and road locations before making decisions â€" and lets local opinion make a difference, Koch said.

Synergy groups also give industry early warnings on emerging issues.Along with water conservation, noise control has surfaced as a priority issue in the Alberta countryside, he said.

John Koch, VP of Trident says his company hasn't decided whether or not to proceed with commercial coal-bed methane development in the area.If it does, it will make sure to sue existing roads and pipeline right of ways and will do everything it can to minimize surface disturbance.He speculates that CBM development in Rumsey could be worth potentially billions of dollars.

John Koch, P.Eng, PMP, has been promoted to chief operating officer.
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Prior to joining Trident, Koch was vice-president operations at Niko Resources Ltd. and Pacalta Resources Ltd.

E. John Koch, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President, Operations
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E. John Koch, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President, Operations

Mr. Koch graduated from the University of Alberta in 1983 with a Petroleum Engineering degree.He has held operations positions of increasing responsibility in a number of resource and service companies, including Exxon and Schlumberger, in Canada and internationally.He was Vice President Operations of Pacalta Resources Ltd. from commencement of Ecuadorian operations through the sale to Alberta Energy Company (2,000 to 45,000 Bbl/d), and was Vice President Operations of Niko Resources Ltd. over a period which saw a five-fold increase in gas production from operations in India.Mr. Koch joined TEC in February, 2002.