Let’s be “Frack” About Shale Gas
IGEM’s Shale Gas conference at Durham University brings together
academics, policy experts and industry leaders
The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) hopes to be at the
forefront of developing standards that inform a robust set of regulations for
shale gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking’.
On 28 March the Institution for Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) hosted its
own shale gas conference at Durham University, sponsored by Capita
Symonds,. It attracted a broad variety of stakeholders to hear debates about
the potential of shale gas in the UK and to review the existing regulatory
framework.
The event brought together representatives from industry, academia,
Government agencies and geologists in addition to a resident advocate /
engineer representing the views of the concerned residents living adjacent to
the fracking site in Lancashire, operated by Cuadrilla Resources Ltd.
Shale gas is politically important as it could reduce the UK’s reliance on
foreign energy providers. It could have the potential to extend existing gas
stocks by at least ten years. It could reduce dependency on other sources of
energy and might prove to produce less CO2 and other greenhouse gases
than coal and oil.
Many industry representatives believe environmental concerns about
‘fracking’ and shale gas production can be successfully addressed. Concerns
include fears about contamination of water, seismic activity and responsible
use and storage of fracking fluids. The Government, along with institutions
such as IGEM, is currently reviewing working methods and the potential
consequences of onshore operations.
Shale gas exploration is expected to be similar to other exploration
practices, for example operations in the North Sea, fully overseen by
regulators, including the HSE and institutions charged with the duty of
protecting the individual and the environment within which they operate.
It is envisaged that operators should take into account specific issues
relating to the operating environment onshore which relate to seismic
activity, disposal of fracking fluids and protection of groundwater.
She continued: "IGEM sees its role as a regulator to help set standards that
ensure the safety and safe practice of hydraulic fracking to enable the
successful extraction of onshore gas reserves. IGEM has a range of existing
standards which inform the HSE and industry to ensure the safe practice of
operating the gas grid.
Public concerns
“Clearly the public has been alarmed by reports from the US – however
these reports are highly misleading and represent an operating environment
which is totally alien to British engineering and the UK government”, said Dr
Claire Curtis-Thomas, IGEM's Chief Executive Officer, speaking at the
conference.
“The practices witnessed in the US would never be permitted in the UK.
Despite this fact, US images continue to be played out in the public arena
potentially causing communities which could benefit from shale gas
exploration to reject the investment before even considering the operational
proposals. It is therefore important to develop and maintain dialogue with
communities to assuage their concerns and deliver the potential of this new
energy supply.”
Addressing public concerns about “fracking” potentially disturbing domestic
life for Lancashire residents, where Cuadrilla has a licence to drill
(temporarily on hold), Dr Curtis-Thomas highlighted a similar concerns about
telephone masts in the 1990s, with cancer concerns and fears of “people
being fried in their beds”.
"Public opinion did not prevent authorities from going ahead with building
thousands of telephone masts. As an institution we would not support any
standards if we thought the practice was unsafe", Dr Curtis-Thomas added.
Environmental impacts
Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change at the Environment Agency told the
audience the organisation had made visits to established test sites and the
UK had to learn lessons from the poor management of environmental
standards across the Atlantic.
He told the conference: "We are awaiting the independent review of the
seismic activity induced by fracking at Preese Hall."
"We have made more visits to sites where Cuadrilla has done exploratory
drilling and we see no significant risks to groundwater in the sites which
have been assessed. In other locations there may be more significant risks."
He added:"It is early stages and we are taking it step by step. We need to
take the risks seriously. We are conscious that public confidence is low.”
Like IGEM, the environment agency recommends flowback water is stored in
double-lined tanks. Dr Grayling also clarified that under no circumstances
should there be recycling of flowback water. He stated that inappropriate
disposal of waste water is covered by the Mining Waste Directive and
Environmental Planning Directive 2010. There are also numerous other
regulations applying to environmental risks and controls. In relation to
underground discharges and leaks he stated there were powers under the
Water Resources Act 1991 that require the operator to disclose the
chemicals. In relation to fugitive emissions, Offshore installations and Wells
Regulations 1996; Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995 (HSE) cover the design, construction and operation of the well too.
Assuring the community
Fears in the local community are such that Cuadrilla aims to be as
“transparent as possible” and publishes all information and data on its
website.
“When we fracture, invariably we do create seismicity, but this is very
small,” stated Huw Clarke exploration geologist from Cuadrilla.
“This is usually down to a stress fault near the well bore when we liberate
the bore hole.
He said that all mining created small seismic shocks but because the coal
industry is more established “the coal board never held up their hands, to
earth tremors, but we are.
He dismissed claims that Cuadrilla “grows fractures from the rock to the
water table vertically to contaminate water. “Our wells are some 7,000 ft
away from the water table,” he said.
He added that each well has seismic censors and investment in 3D seismic
imaging will search for fault lines, reducing the impact of small shocks.
Meanwhile, Mike Hill countered that there could be an instance where
seismicity can cause the cement borehole to fracture. In this case he said
that "It doesn't matter if you are 100 m or 10 km below the aqufier - if you
get fractured cement, then you get methane migration and under a pressure
of 3000 psi it comes up fast and travels a long distance."
Dr Curtis-Thomas also made the case that in creating a set of uniform
standards, the UK should consider the technology and processes around
fracturing, particularly with relation to borehole integrity and design. "In
addition to the concerns about water safety and seismology, there needs to
be evidence that the concrete and cement used in the borehole design is
able to withstand small seismic shocks. There is a duty to regulate the
concrete specs and produce a certification and verification and testing that
the concrete is to up to spec. Mike Hill's concerns are valid and his demands
we feel at IGEM are reasonable."
Misinformation erupts
Toni Harvey, an exploration geologist for DECC highlighted the danger of
public misconception: "It is really important that information is put to the
public otherwise you get a lot of disinformation in the press." He cited the
Mendip Volcano where a local paper was "convinced that if we drilled down
we would release lava into the street!"
She said a report on the risk of seismicity in the UK would be published on
the department's website later this year.
Meanwhile, Professor Richard Selley, mentor of IGEM’s shale gas report
author Aaron Pereira revealed that shale gas is “not new”. It was a "cottage
industry" in naturally fractured shale rocks as early as 1815. The only new
development in shale is fracking – the ability to drill horizontally, he said.
"In the UK we have already drilled the Elswick well, without the world
coming to an end!”
Nick Grealy of the blog No Hot Air and Mike Hill, an engineer representing
Lancashire residents also tackled both sides of the debate over public
perception versus reality taking stock of residents’ fears and scientific
evidence.
In addition Tony Baldwin CEO of CNG Services set out the case for a
transportation network supported by CNG and potentially shale gas.
In summary
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Possible seismic activity is a risk, however, this can be mitigated
by monitoring and abandoning where there is activity during
fracking. There have been a set of agreed levels published
Ground water contamination can be mitigated by double lining the
bore to a depth well below the water table
Disposal of contaminated fracking fluid is an issue but with
regulation this should be overcome.
IGEM’s research into Shale Gas
The conference came off the back of IGEM’s report: Shale Gas – A UK
Energy Miracle? which makes recommendations for shale gas extraction.
The report makes a number of recommendations about storage of flowback
water, stating storage tanks should be able to withstand a once in a 300year weather event. It also recommends the need for one body to bring all
the standards together.
Facts and Figures
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In the UK it is estimated that there are 200 tcf trillion cu ft ( could
be either 10 to the power of 12 or 10 to the power of 18
depending on whether short or long units). This compares with
3,842 tcf in North America and 3,528 in Asia
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The Bowland basin is smaller than the Marcellus shale in North
America, but more than 10 times thicker
Only 5-15 per cent of the total shale in the UK is recoverable using
existing technology.
Assuming that the trillion is short and we extract 10 per cent of
the reserves it represents about 20 years of UK gas use
UK gas usage is about 90 billion cf per annum (figures from DECC)
About IGEM
The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers was founded in 1863; awarded a Royal
Charter the independent learned Institution undertakes two primary roles: the review of
existing and development of new operational standards for the gas industry worldwide
and the promotion of professional conduct throughout the sector.
The Institution supports a number of expert led independent technical committees which
meet on a regular basis to review current operational practises and to make
recommendations to improve working conditions. The primary objective of every
standard produced is to protect the working individual, the environment within which the
individual is working and the public interest.
The Institution produces on a regular basis a number of research papers and delivers a
range of technical courses which seek to explain the underpinning knowledge of its
standards to people working within the sector. The Institutions latest report on Shale
Gas is available at the following web link. Reports on bio fuels and hydrogen will be
published shortly.
The UK gas companies when submitting operational plans to the Health and Safety
Executive will refer to the Institutions Gas Standards when making their safety cases.