What experts say about the environmental risks of shale. The potential future economic and energy security benefits of a large resource of natural gas in south africa could be substantial. Environmental and health issues in unconventional oil and. In pennsylvania, oil and gas wastewater is sometimes treated at brine treatment facilities and discharged to local streams. Four specific areas of concern dominate discussion regarding development of the resource. Environmental impact of the oil shale industry wikipedia. Environmental issues, climate changes, and energy security in. What experts say about the environmental risks of shale gas. Potential health concerns air emissions vocs are one of the key ingredients in forming ozone smog.
Impact of shale gas development on water resources. This years forum was centered on the ongoing shale gas boom and how it is shaping energy security and environmental issues across the world. To do this, most operations follow these basic steps. Shale gas geology shale gas is natural gas produced from shale formations and these shales function as both reservoir and source rock for the natural gas. Evaluating the environmental implications of hydraulic. Request pdf on feb 1, 2014, barbara uliaszmisiak and others published shale and tight gas in poland. Discover how the industry affects landowners and municipalities. With rapidly increasing demand for energy, the trend world over is to supplement conventional oil and gas production with other alternative unconventional energy fuel sources. Geological survey usgs, and the potential gas committeethree organizations that estimate the size of these resourceshave increased over the last 5 years, which could mean an increase in the nations energy portfolio. Since hydraulic fracturing typically involves the use of large quantities of water and chemicals, associated risks for contamination of ground and surface waters. An analysis of the environmental impacts of the extraction of. In addition, the combustion and thermal processing generate waste material, which must be disposed.
Hydraulic fracturing hydraulic fracturing hf is commonly used in the oil and gas industry to enhance subsurface fracture systems to allow oil or natural gas to move more freely from the rock pores to production wells. So called wet gas deposits contain higher proportions of these heavier compounds, which are separated and marketed as natural gas liquids ngls, in general at a substantially higher price than the dry gas. Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas. Marcellus shale and natural gas penn state extension. Implications of shale gas development for climate change. How shale gas is shaping energy security and environmental issues across the world wednesday, october 16, 20 the 5th ecoengineering forum o ctober 16th, 20 marked the fifth anniversary of a joint annual forum presented by hitachi, ltd. Sep 05, 2012 estimates of the size of shale oil and gas resources in the united states by the energy information administration eia, u. Shale oil and gas research institute, peking university, beijing 100871, china abstract. The safe disposal of liquid wastes associated with oil and gas production in the united states is a major challenge given their large volumes and typically high levels of contaminants. The recent innovation of horizontal drilling coupled with hydraulic fracturing has significantly improved the ability of drillers to access gas in shale rock formations. Environmental issues, climate changes, and energy security in developing asia benjamin k. Environmental impacts of natural gas union of concerned. However, shale gas is controversial, with many people being opposed to it because of various sustainability issues associated with its exploitationand utilization. As an example, the ultimate estimated recovery eur for a natural gas well can range from a dry hole i.
Environmental impact of the oil shale industry includes the consideration of issues such as land use, waste management, and water and air pollution caused by the extraction and processing of oil shale. Guidelines for environmental management during shale gas oil exploration and production 1. Shale gas 7 executive summary 9 the shale gas revolution 9 shale gas in the united states 10 the production of shale gas 10 environmental issues associated with shale gas production 11 0. Recognizing the economic and environmental potentials of shale oil and gas, american water supports safe and responsible development of shale gas production pursuant to state and federal regulations that ensure protection of the environment, especially water sources. Shale gas and its implications for africa and the african. Explore the economic, business, and environmental impacts of the marcellus shale and natural gas industry. To date shale gas has only been exploited in the us and, while initial estimates have been made, it is difficult to quantify the possible resources in other parts of the globe. Environmental impacts of shale gas extraction in canada. In this lesson, we will look at the unique way natural gas is extracted from shale rock and the environmental concerns associated with it. Environmental issues, climate changes, and energy security. Unconventional oil and natural gas development us epa. A series of federal laws governs most environmental aspects of shale gas development. The oil and gas industry is the largest industrial source of voc emissions in the u. It is not an attorneyclient communication, is not intended to provide legal advice or assistance or to solicit or.
How shale gas is shaping energy security and environmental. Shale gas exploration and production key issues and. Environmental regulatory basics january 2014 introduction this fact sheet provides a basic overview of natural gas drilling in the marcellus and utica shale regions of ohio and the potential environmental issues associated with these activities. Shale gas production is a part of the oil and gas industry and therefore falls under the same regulatory framework as the rest of the industry. Shale gas and the environment carnegie mellon university.
These technologies enable greater access to oil and natural gas in shale formations. Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing wikipedia. The environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing is related to land use and water consumption, air emissions, including methane emissions, brine and fracturing fluid leakage, water contamination, noise pollution, and health. However, in treating the shale as a bridge to a low carbon future there are risks to the development of technologies, like capture and storage, needed to complete the task. Hydraulic fracturing and shale gas the earth times. Impacts of shale gas wastewater disposal on water quality in. Summary of environmental issues, mitigation strategies, and regulatory challenges associated with shale gas development in the united states and.
Unconventional oil and natural gas play a key role in our nations clean energy future. Hydraulic fracturing shale gas is a natural gas produced. That matters because shale gas is mainly methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Summary of environmental issues, mitigation strategies, and regulatory challenges associated with shale gas development in the united states and applicability to development and operations in. Energy committee looks at shale gas environmental issues. Environmental impacts of shale gas exploration and exploitation hydrofracturing process for shale gas exploitation has the potential to have an impact on the environment fig. Several issues need to be addressed to ensure that shale gas can be produced in a manner that meets environmental and public health protection goals howarth and ingraffea 2011. First, i would like to briefly discuss the geology and geochemistry of shales as. Estimates of the size of shale oil and gas resources in the united states by the energy information administration eia, u. Research has determined that human health is affected. Public discourse suggests a lack of consensus in the united states regarding the environmental impacts of shale gas development. October 16th, 20 marked the fifth anniversary of a joint annual forum presented by hitachi, ltd. The average lifetime of a shale oil or gas well varies highly. May 04, 2015 the pennsylvania department of environmental protection recently released data on air emissions from the shale gas industry in 20 publicsource looked into the data and built a series of.
This third forum was held to discuss the concerns associated with extracting gas from shale deposits. It should be stressed that a key issue in assessing these issues has been a paucity of reliable data. Royalty rates, rents, and signing bonuses paid to state and private landowners vary. The pennsylvania department of environmental protection recently released data on air emissions from the shale gas industry in 20 publicsource looked into the data and built a. It also presents a summary of regulations applicable to the natural gas production industry, and details the environmental considerations related to. Below is a brief summary of some of the environmental issues surrounding shale gas development. For example, the clean water act regulates surface discharges of water associated with shale gas drilling and production, as well as storm water runoff from production sites. Apr 10, 2015 the environmental concerns about the effects of shale gas development can be grouped into five general categories. Surface mining of oil shale deposits causes the usual environmental impacts of openpit mining.
Shale gas exploration and production key issues and responsible business practices guidance note for financiers this guidance note has been produced to assist financial institutions in their internal conversations and decisionmaking with regard to risks and responsible business practices associated with shale gas production. Ultimately, the purpose of hydraulic fracturing is to increase the permeability of the source rock to get oil and gas to. Development, technology, and policy issues congressional research service 2 gas shale development takes place on both private and state lands. In texas, where similar gas shale development takes place, the rates are generally higher. Gas shale environmental issues and challenges fundamentals. Energy committee looks at shale gas environmental issues and best practices on thursday, may 23, the senate energy and natural resources committee held its third of three scheduled forums on the future of natural gas usage in the united states. Legal and environmental issues find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
An analysis of the environmental impacts of the extraction. Guidelines for environmental management during shale. It also presents a summary of regulations applicable to the natural gas production industry, and details the environmental considerations related to shale gas development. Drilling and fracturing also produce large amounts of wastewater, which may. The problem is that gas is leaky and shale gas may be doubly so. Legal and environmental issues find, read and cite all. This study examined the water quality and isotopic. The environmental concerns about the effects of shale gas development can be grouped into five general categories. Shale gas has solved the gas availability issue in the us shale gas is a low carbon, relatively low polluting alternative to coal for electric power generation shale gas can play a key role in energy security for the us the barnett shale gas play of the fort worth basin. The government regulations set for the shale oil and gas industry are still premature due to the. Through comprehensive investigation of the environmental issues in shale gas development in the us, the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas development are summarized to provide reference for the shale gas development and man agement.
Along with the increased scale of shale oil and gas development, came concerns over potential human health and environmental impacts, such issues as water quality and availability, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and the prospects for inducing seismic events. Jul 16, 2011 many gas companies have put forward shale gas a clean bridge fuel, to help ease the move to a wind and sunpowered future. The production of oil from shales has a potentially serious impact on the environment. The purpose of this policymaker guide is to take a systems approach to energy issuescollecting. Environmental and health issues in unconventional oil and gas development offers a series of authoritative perspectives from varied viewpoints on key issues relevant in the use of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing, providing a timely presentation of requisite information on the implications of these technologies for those connected to unconventional oil and shale gas. A report commissioned by the cooperative and undertaken by researchers at the tyndall centre, university of manchester. Impacts of shale gas wastewater disposal on water quality. This is causing a growing con cern in many governments and in the involved communities because very few extensive studies and information are available. Drilling for natural gas in the marcellus and utica shales.
1386 295 1050 1310 118 900 328 858 422 295 1521 429 193 1173 569 436 494 775 740 117 740 267 1304 1499 420 153 298 1226 1012 541 683 1356 945 389 567 392 900 1412 821 633 1308 466 965