Diocese of West Yorkshire & Dales
Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Environment Briefing
Jemima Parker, Diocesan Environment Officer. August 2015
Quick Summary
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Three areas in the diocese were licensed for fracking on 18th August. Each licence covers a
10km2 area.
Nine other, more sensitive areas, in the diocese are being considered. The government
consultation closes 29th September.
Fracking is an industry that can have considerable local environmental impact causing:
increased traffic; water, air and noise pollution; and effecting local wildlife.
The gas and methane released
by fracking are fossil fuels
which, if extracted, will
contribute to climate change.
Further investment and
commitment to exploit fossil
fuels is contrary to all the
scientific evidence that points
to the urgent need to cut
carbon and methane
emissions to prevent
devastating run away climate
change.
Photo: Cuadrilla Resources Ltd well site near Balcombe, West Sussex.
As climate change is bringing both unprecedented ecosystem destruction and human
suffering Christians should be moved to act compassionately and oppose fracking.
Diocesan leaders and local churches should pray and consider what action to take in
response to this paper.
What is Fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing is the
process of breaking up rocks
deep underground (1-3.5
km below the surface) that
contain gas or oil. The
deposits are reached by a
small well shaft through
which large quantities of
water are pumped under
high pressure over a period
of a few weeks to break up the shale structures to release the gas. The gas is then collected over
subsequent years at the well. Each well site is usually about the size of two football pitches and
there may be up to 8 per square mile. Hydraulic fracturing has been a commonly used technique on
North Sea oil and gas fields; however it has not been deployed onshore in the UK for shale
exploitation. The largest commercial resource of shale gas deposits in the UK are expected to be in
the Bowland Shale of the Pennine Basin in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Detailed maps can be viewed in
the DECC report at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226874/BGS_DECC_Bowl
andShaleGasReport_MAIN_REPORT.pdf . While there are several exploratory sites around the
country, Cuadrilla Resources Ltd (UK) is the only company to have an active drill site in the UK at
present at Balcome in West Sussex.
What is happening with fracking in the UK and in our Diocese now?
Scotland and Wales have called a moratorium on fracking in February 2015. Fracking is banned in
France, Bulgaria and New York and Vermont States (USA). Moratoriums have been called in
Germany, Netherlands, Quebec and Tunisia while the environmental impacts are researched.
Government Licences in England
The first hydraulic fracking licence was granted to Cuadrilla in 2007 in Lancashire. Since then
consecutive Governments have held a series of bidding rounds to award licences to international
drilling companies such as Eden Energy, UK Methane Ltd, Coastal Oil and Gas, Celtique Energie, and
IGas Energy. Each licence gives permission for the company to undertake seismic surveys,
exploratory drilling and then gas exploitation within a 10km2 zone, but only once planning
permission for each of these activities has been obtained from the local County Council or Unitary
Authority. Currently, companies have rights to drill in 176 licence areas, mostly concentrated in and
around Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and Sussex, only one of which takes in one parish in the
diocese, Kirkhammerton.
On 18th August 2015 the government announced the first tranche of the 14th licence bidding round.
27 licences each 10km2 were granted, 3 of which are in the diocese of WY&D (see table 1 below).
These can be seen on the map at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454361/14th_Round_Ma
p_First_Tranche.pdf
A further 132 10km2 areas covering more sensitive local environments are currently under
consideration, the public consultation closes on 29th September. Nine of these are in or will impact
on the diocese (see table 1 below) and can be viewed in detail at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454768/33917_HRA_App
endix_E_Figs.pdf . The licences that are being held back, either contain, or are close to special
environmental sites which are protected under EU law because they are home to rare species or
habitats. This means the Government is obliged to carry out further consultation before formally
awarding them.
In July the Government issued new regulations defining “protected groundwater source areas” and
“other protected areas” permitting fracking up to 50 meters away from groundwater abstraction
and underneath (but not within) National Parks, area of outstanding natural beauty and World
Heritage sites at a depth of at least 1200m 1. Fracking is not prohibited in or under SSSIs.
Table 1: Fracking Licences in WY&D
National
10km2
Grid
number *
Detailed
map
page
**
Area of Licence
WY&D
Episcopal Area
SE York
Fringing Ripon
Granted 2008
SE 54
E of York and
Kirkhammerton
Ripon
Granted 2008
SE 55
Easingwold
Fringing Ripon
Granted 2008
SE 56
Thornscoe
S Pontefract
N Pontefract/
Castleford
Coxwold near
Thirsk
Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield
Licence Granted 18.8.15
Licence Granted 18.8.15
Licence Granted 18.8.15
SE 40
SE 41
SE 42
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Fringing Ripon
Under consultation until
29.9.15
SE 57
Page 34
S Penistone
Wakefield/
Huddersfield
Under consultation until
29.9.15
SE 29
Page 72
N Sheffield
Wakefield
SE 39
Page 76
Barnsley
Wakefield
SE 30
Page 25
Wakefield S/
Royston
Wakefield N/
Rothwell
Doncaster
Wakefield
Under consultation until
29.9.15
Under consultation until
29.9.15
Under consultation until
29.9.15
Under consultation until
29.9.15
Under consultation until
29.9.15
E Boroughbridge within
10km Potential Zone of
Impact
Barnsley and Holmfirth
within 10km Potential
Zone of Impact
Barnsley within 10km
Potential Zone of Impact
10km2 Exploration area
SE 31
Page 26
10km2 Exploration area
SE 32
Page 27
10km2 Exploration area
SE 50
Page 31
SE Pontefract
Wakefield
SE 51
Page 32
E Knottingley
Wakefield
Under consultation until
29.9.15
Under consultation until
29.9.15
SE Pontefract within
10km Potential Zone of
Impact
10km2 Exploration area
SE 52
Page 33
10km2 Exploration area
Wakefield/
Leeds
Fringing
Wakefield
Current licencing status
Level of Impact
Wetherby within 10km
Potential Zone of Impact
Kirkhammerton Parish
within 10km2 Exploration
area
E Boroughbridge within
10km Potential Zone of
Impact
10km2 Exploration area
10km2 Exploration area
10km2 Exploration area
*See map at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454361/14th_Round_Ma
p_First_Tranche.pdf
**See map at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454768/33917_HRA_App
endix_E_Figs.pdf
Council Planning Permission and compensation Payments
There is now a 16 week time limit for councils to process fracking applications. This planning
guidance was issued by the Government on 13th August, shortly after Lancashire County Council’s
decision in June not to grant drilling permission to Cuadrilla, to drill and frack eight wells, after
several delays while the council consider more evidence. If council panning permission is not
determined within this timeframe the Government will call in the application and make the decision
centrally.
In May 2014 the government had increased the level of compensation available to communities to
£20,000 for each lateral well at fracking sites, in an attempt to lessen local opposition. The payments
are on top of the existing compensation system, under which communities are to be given a lump
sum of £100,000 when a test well is fracked, plus 1% of profits.
What are the suggested benefits of
fracking?
Proponents of the fracking industry suggest that:
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The increase in gas production over the
next 25 years will reduce UK energy bills.
Others argue that gas is an international
commodity and prices will continue to
fluctuate globally.
Photo: Workers tend to a well head during a hydraulic fracturing operation
at an Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. gas well outside Rifle, in western Colorado.
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It will provide the UK with better energy security. This would be equally true of investment
in other forms of energy generation such as renewables or nuclear power.
The jobs from this industry and the tax revenue it will generate will boost the economy.
Again this could also be achieved by investment in more sustainable energy industries.
Increases in gas production will help the UK to move away from dirtier fossil fuels, thermal
coal and oil, and act as a transition to lower carbon energy production. This disregards the
fact that gas is still a fossil fuel. Transition to low carbon electricity generation can be made
directly without the need for an intermediary fuel.
Local communities will benefit from compensation payments from the exploration
corporations. This may be at the expense of local environmental damage and health risks.
What are the environmental concerns over fracking?
Climate change
Fracking is a fossil fuel industry. Investment in gas exploration in the UK comes at a time when we
have urgent and challenging requirements facing us with regards to carbon reductions. The 2008
Climate Change Act committed the UK to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030, and by 80% by
2050. Given the radical reduction in emissions required and the need for a decarbonised electricity
supply within two decades, fracking infrastructure risks being a major distraction from transitioning
to a genuine zero-carbon grid. It will lock the UK into years of infrastructure investment, while it
could instead be investing in renewable electricity production.
Some argue that the shale gas from fracking will help
the UK move away from the even dirtier electricity
generation from thermal coal. A paper from
Manchester University states “The argument that
shale gas should be exploited as a transitional fuel in
the move to a low carbon economy seems tenuous at
best.” 2 The expansion of the shale gas industry in the
UK is likely to increase the use of gas fired power
stations and render renewable electricity generation
less economic. There has already been a withdrawal
of support for the renewable sector by the current government, discouraging investment and skills
training.
The UK Energy Research Centre states "Instead of banking on shale, UKERC recommends rapidly
expanding investment in alternative low-carbon energy sources and investing in more gas storage,
which would help protect consumers against short-term supply disruption and price rises" 3
Methane
“Fugitive emissions” –leaks- of methane are a problem in shale gas production because methane is a
potent greenhouse gas, approximately 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 100 year
timescale. Emissions from fracking wells range between 4-9% of gas extracted 4.
Water Contamination
A multi-stage fracturing operation
involves injecting water at very high
pressure into the wellbore to generate
fractures in the rock. Fracturing of a
single well requires a considerable
volume of water and, with chemical
additives of up to 2% by volume, around
180-580 m3 of chemical additives (or 180580 tonnes). 2
There are two areas of concern for water pollution. Firstly, the contamination of ground water
supplies. Well shafts are encased in concrete to ensure that the fracturing fluids pass through the
layers of rock containing aquafers (water used for water supplies). There have been a number of
instances of aquafer adulteration in the US where poor management were to blame. A wide range of
toxic chemicals are used in the US, the DECC has approved the use of only 3 chemical additives in
hydraulic fracturing slurries in the UK: polyacrylamide (a friction reducer); hydrochloric acid
(concentrations of under 1%); and a non-toxic biocide.
Secondly, possible surface water contamination from stored flowback water. One potential
pollution path is from leaks on the surface through
spillage. After fracturing, a proportion of the fluid
returns as flowback water which not only contains
the chemical additives, but is radioactive following it’s
contact with deep level sedimentary rocks, which are
naturally more radioactive. A study of Bowland shale
revealed flowback was 500 times more radioactive
than local groundwater 5, but this is apparently still
within Environment Agency’s annual safe limits.
Government regulation states that all flowback water
storage ponds must be covered in the UK.
Photo: Pools of Fracking fluid located close to a residential area.
Air Pollution
There is mounting evidence in the US for a range of health threats from levels of smog and of toxic
air contaminants associated with drill sites. Exposure to this pollution can cause eye, nose, and
throat irritation, respiratory illnesses, central nervous system damage, birth defects, cancer, or
premature death 6. Air pollution stems from:
diesel generating plant and from truck
transport; from Silica (the main component
of ‘frac sand’); chemical compounds from
flowback water becoming airborne; and from
nitrogen oxides released from the fracking
process and volatile organic compounds
reacting with sunlight to form ozone (‘smog’).
Open flares for well tests are currently not
permitted in the UK.
Photo: Drilling near Mansfield, Texas.
Noise pollution
Given the high population density and the likelihood that any shale gas extraction may be located
relatively close to population centres, noise pollution may be an important consideration. Activities
such as drilling mean that each well pad requires around 500-1500 days (and nights) of noisy surface
activity 2.
Traffic
The amount of water needed to drill and fracture a horizontal shale gas well generally range from
about 2 million to 4 million gallons, depending on the
basin and formation characteristics. This has to be
transported to and subsequently removed from the
well site, for decontamination. It is estimated that the
construction of each well head would require
between 4300-6500 truck visits. Damage to roads not
suited to the levels of truck traffic associated with gas
drilling has been an issue in the UK 2.
Photo: Protestors and police clash again to prevent vehicles entering
the fracking site at Balcombe in Sussex
Landscape impacts
The construction of well pads is an industrial activity and requires access roads, storage pits, tanks,
drilling equipment, trucks etc. Well pads take up around 1.5-2 hectares and the well pads will be
spaced between 1.25-3 per km2. To reach industry targets of 9 billion cubic metres of gas annually in
the UK over 20 years 430-500 well pads would be required, covering a total land area of 140400km2. For comparison 400km2 is about equivalent to the Isle of Wight 2. Land lost may include
farmland, natural habitats and amenity spaces.
Earth tremors
Tremors occur at a deep level when rocks are fractured. There are only three known cases of
hydraulic fractured wells that induced quakes strong enough to be felt by humans at the surface.
Seismic events with the potential to initiate damage (up to M 5.6) have been associated with some
water disposal wells in the US.
What about our Christian Response?
As people of Christ we are called to take seriously our stewardship of
God’s earth; to intervene to care for creation and act in the face of
injustice7. We are commissioned to seek God’s Kingdom, bringing
healing and restoration for the natural world 8. We must not forget
the principles of land ownership and jubilee established in Leviticus 9.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it 10. As with other aspects of
our faith we may find that this means having a prophetic role in
society and taking actions that are counter cultural. This is part of our proclamation of the good
news of the gospel. See Appendix 1: Stewardship of Creation.
Although fracking is a complex issue it is an industry that abuses God’s creation and creates injustice.
Locally industrial development favours short term commercial gain by large corporations, at the
expense of local people and the detriment of local land, with the potential for long term
environmental damage. While some people may benefit from compensation and employment this is
not widespread or sustainable.
Fracking’s contribution to climate change is in many ways a more significant justice issue. The
injustice from the impacts of climate change is already evident and a cause for grave concern. Those
communities and individuals least able to adapt are being affected most, both in the UK and, more
acutely, in less developed countries. Future generations who have not caused the damage will
experience the most radical consequences of climate change.
“UK plc” may benefit, over the next 25 years, from the gas produced from fracking. However, our
increased carbon footprint will contribute to a global risk of tipping average global temperatures
beyond a 2 0C rise, the conservative “safe” limit of global warming. See appendix 2: Climate Change a
Summary.
The consequences for humanity and the whole of
God’s creation of climate alteration going beyond
this, at an unprecedented speed, are grave. Food
and water shortages, heat waves, droughts, floods,
hurricanes and storms, would cause death, mass
migration, exacerbate existing conflicts and ignite
new ones: untold human suffering and the
destruction of the incredible, intricate ecosystems
that bring glory to their creator.
Photo from the Climate Change, Environment and Migration Alliance
If Christians remain silent about the longer term and wider impacts of fracking (or climate change in
general) they ignore an abuse that must sorely grieve our compassionate and loving Lord.
What could the local church do?
There are many ways in which congregations can
come together to bless the local community and
our global neighbours while under the threat of
local fracking. These include:
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Praying for these complex issues of
environment, economy and justice. Pray
for wise decisions for our Government,
County Councils and discernment on
what action we should take personally.
Raising awareness. Making local people, businesses and other community groups aware that
fracking applications or consultations are taking place and informing them of the
implications of fracking.
Offering a venue for public meetings. Providing a warm welcome to all.
Speaking out for justice:
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Taking part in the Government consultation on fracking licence areas. The current
round closes 29th September 2015.
o Contacting their local County Councillor or County Council Planning Committee
members to express any concerns relating to fracking, such as the local impact and
climate justice issues.
Join or start a local community fracking action group to bring a Jesus focused and scripturally
based views to a local issue. There are currently only community groups in Hebden Bridge,
Harrogate and Wetherby (additionally York and Doncaster, although outside the Diocese,
have groups).
References
1
Department of Energy and Climate Change. The Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015
www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukdsi/2015/9780111137932
2
“Shale gas: a provisional assessment of climate change and environmental impacts” The Tyndall Centre, University of
Manchester 2011 tyndall.ac.uk/sites/default/files/tyndall-coop_shale_gas_report_final.pdf
3
"A Bridge to a Low-Carbon Future? Modelling the Long-Term Global Potential of Natural Gas". www.ukerc.ac.uk UK Energy
Research Centre 2014
4
Nature 493, 2013 www.nature.com/news/methane-leaks-erode-green-credentials-of-natural-gas-1.12123
5
Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems (CeREES), Durham University www.dur.ac.uk/resources/refine/NORM24-614.pdf
6
Fracking Fumes: Air Pollution from Hydraulic Fracturing Threatens Public Health and Communities. Natural Resources Defense
Council 2014 www.nrdc.org/health/files/fracking-air-pollution-IB.pdf
7
Micah 6:1-8
8
Mark 16:15, Romans 8:19
9
Psalm 24:1
10 Leviticus 25:23-24
Appendix 1: Stewardship of Creation
Exploring God’s relationship with His created order should be our starting point. We need to stand
back and consider Christ’s love for1 and joy in His creation. Take time to reflect on how creation
primarily exists to glorify the Lord2. Consider the implications of knowing that Jesus came to bring
salvation3 and reconciliation4 for the whole earth through His death and resurrection. All of creation
is waiting for the fruition of the Kingdom of God, so as to be fully redeemed and restored5, just as we
do as people. We have the beautiful picture in Revelation 21:1-5 of the restoration of heaven and
earth where God comes to dwell with us in His renewed creation.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Psalm24:1
We are temporary tenants6, not owners, of this beautiful, intricate world that God has blessed us
with. He has placed us in a relationship with the natural world. We are completely dependent upon
it for our basic needs of air to breath, water, food and shelter; and for more sophisticated benefits
such as medicines, precious metal, radio waves or inspiration for art.
In that relationship we have a responsibility for the earth, a stewardship relationship, where we are
to care for other species and resources that the earth holds. However, we are all aware that this
relationship between the natural world and people is damaged. We can easily see the effects of this
brokenness on the land, sea and air in, say, an oil tanker spill7. In a more complex way climate
change is bringing about radical damage to the whole of the earth’s systems. The atmosphere, ocean
currents, coastal interfaces, polar regions and every ecosystem on the planet is experiencing
unprecedentedly rapid change.
Additionally our impaired relationship with creation spills over to affect our relationship with other
people. The injustice of the impacts of climate change is acute8. Those communities and individuals
least able to adapt are being affected most. Future generations who have not caused the damage
will experience the most radical consequences of climate change.
As people of Christ we are called to take seriously our stewardship of God’s earth; to intervene to
care for creation and act in the
face of injustice. We are
commissioned to seek God’s
Kingdom, bringing healing and
restoration for the natural world.
As with other aspects of our faith
we may find that this means
having a prophetic role in society
and taking actions that are
counter cultural. This is part of
our proclamation of the good
news of the gospel.
“And He said to them, ‘Go into
the world and proclaim the good
news to the whole of creation.’”
Mark 16:15
1 John 3:16
2 Psalm 19:1-5
3 John 3:17, Psalm 65:5
4 Colossians 1:20
5 Romans 8:19-23, Isaiah 43:18-21
6 Leviticus 25:23-24
7 Hosea 4:1-18
8 Micah 6:1-8
Appendix 2: Climate Change – A Summary
Climate change is a present reality and it will be part of all our futures.
Key facts
 There has been 0.85 °C global average temperature rise between 1880 and 2012. 1
 Concentrations of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) now
substantially exceed the highest concentrations recorded in ice cores during the past
800,000 years. The rate of increase of these gases in the past century is unprecedented in
the past 22,000 years. 2
Current Climate Change Outcomes
Changes in many extreme weather and climate
events have been observed since about 1950.1 This
includes both global events such as Hurricane
Yolanda in the Philippines 2013 and local incidents
for example flash flooding in Swaledale 2012 or
flooding in West Yorkshire August 2014.
Every year an estimated 325 million people are now
seriously affected by climate change and more than
300,000 people die each year due to related factors
and economic losses of US$125 billion are incurred.3
Castleford August 2014
Future Trends
 The global mean surface temperature change for the period 2016–2035 will likely be in the
range of 0.3°C to 0.7°C.4
 Most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions of CO2 are
stopped. This represents a substantial multi-century climate change effect created by past,
present and future emissions of CO2.5 There is a delay of about 30 years for the full impact of
carbon emissions to be reflected in global temperatures.
Why is keeping below 20C global warming considered essential?
Once global temperatures rise to near or above 2oC a greenhouse gas feedback cycle is forecast to
be triggered: reduced sunlight reflection from polar ice sheets accelerates heat absorption; warmer
oceans hold less CO2 and releases methane hydrates stored on the ocean floor; methane and carbon
dioxide released from thawing of Siberian permafrost;
and collapse of the Amazon rainforest ecosystem (a
carbon store) due to drought 6.
Likely Future Climate Change Outcomes
Examples for each degree of global warming above 1880
levels 6:
1oC Island atolls such as the Maldives, Tuvalu, Kiribati
and the Marshall Islands submerged displacing their
populations.
2oC Glaciers in the Cordillera Central, Peru melted away drying up Lima’s fresh water supply.
3oC 80% -100% of Arctic sea ice melted. Amazon rainforest ecosystem collapses due to drought.
4oC Desert areas spreading in Italy, Turkey, Spain and Greece, while Northern Europe experiences
increased precipitation.
5oC The UK may experience almost annual severe winter flooding. Precipitation in the Asian
monsoon may increase by a third. Severely reduced areas suitable for crop production globally.
6oC Similar conditions were found at the end-Permian era when there were tropical forests at the
poles and desert reached 45-60 degrees north.
Likely WY&D outcomes:
Seasonal changes and increased extreme weather events will particularly affect Yorkshire farmers.
Flooding such as the Somerset and Thames valley floods 2014. Rising food and fuel prices affecting
the most vulnerable in our community. Increased immigration pressure from environmental
refugees. Loss of biodiversity. Substantial costs of climate change passed on through taxation:
mitigation and adaptation strategies such as carbon capture, fossil fuel decommissioning, coastal
flood defences, and flood repairs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
IPCC Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis – Summary Report page 3 www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar5/wg1/WG1AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf
IPCC Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis – Summary Report page 9
“The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis” Human Impact Report Climate Change, Global Humanitarian Forum 2009 page 11.
IPCC Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis – Summary Report page 18
IPCC Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis – Summary Report page 25
Six Degrees. Mark Lynas 2007
IPCC Climate Change Report 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change – Summary Report page 10