An Interim Report on Hydraulic Fracturing – Fracking
By Phillip Romford BSc (Hons), MSc (Petroleum Geochemistry)
Abstract:
A proposal has been made to conduct drilling and coring to investigate what may be suitable
geological formations for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be conducted in the Mendip Hills
region. The intention of this report is to describe the technology, science and chemistry, and
to explain the possible problems that may be encountered; such as earthquakes caused by the
fracturing process, groundwater contamination and shale gas contamination of domestic
water supplies, and the release of green-house gases (GHG). It will also be reasonable to
make mention of the benefits that shale and/or coal gas extracted in the region may bring. The
evidence presented here may be used to determine whether there is any risk of degradation to
our cave environments.
All information and data presented in this report were taken only from reliable sources that
are expert in this subject who do not enter into citing ‘hear say’, or from organisations who
may distort the data for their own vested interests, whether this be industry or protesters. The
information provided here, is for the readers to digest and then to be used to form their own
opinions.
(14 pages omitted by me)
Shale & Coal Gas Report Bristol Exploration Club 3rd December 2011
9 Conclusions
Given that no permissions have yet been applied for it is not possible to draw firm
conclusions. However, from the investigations conducted so far, the indications are that the
proposals and planning applications will most likely be into source rocks that bear the highest
reserves of extractable gas. This suggests that operations will be in the areas that have already
been mined for coal. It would seem illogical to conduct operations in poor source rocks with
low TOC and consequent low gas evolution.
Of primary importance for the objectives of this document is this observation: the evidence
suggests that it would appear to be unlikely that drilling operations, either investigative or for
gas extraction, would be considered for the area containing the Mendip caves. Further to this;
analysis of drilled cores could suggest that hydraulic fracturing may not be required for
successful gas extraction.
The British Geological Survey have estimated that the UK may have only about 1.5 years of
gas supply at the current level of demand; this may be raised, according to an operator in
Lancashire. This does beg this question: would extraction of gas in the Mendip Hills region
be a viable proposition, given that the resource area is very small? (references 2 &3)
Finally, this report is not considered complete until all facts are known about localities,
applications, and operations that may be allowed to take place.
Hydraulic Fracturing . Version 1.0 13 November
2011
Shale & Coal Gas Report Bristol Exploration Club 3rd December 2011
10 References:
1.http://www.shalegas.energy.gov/ resources/081111_90_day_report.pdf
90 Day Report. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, shale and gas sub-committee.
2. https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/UKpromote/onshore_paper/Promote_UK_CBM.pdf
Department of Energy & Climate Change. The Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources
of Britains Onshore Basins – Coal Bed Methane
3. https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/UKpromote/onshore_paper/UK_onshore_shalegas.pdf
Department of Energy & Climate Change. The Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources
of Britains Onshore Basins -Shale Gas
4. http://www.cuadrillaresources.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Chemical-
Disclosure-PH-1.jpg Cuadrilla Resources, table of fluid constituents.
5. http://www.microseismic.com/technology.html micro seismic information
6. cuadrilla_report.pdf Dr. C.J. de Pater and Dr. S. Baisch. Geomechanical Study of
Bowland Shale Seismicity. November 2001.
7. http://www.quakes.bgs.ac.uk/hazard/Hazard_UK.htm information on earthquakes.
8. http://www.philromford.co.uk/pedl074.html map depicting relinquished licence.
9. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/02/fracking-cause-lancashire-quakes?
INTCMP=SRCH Prof A Aplin comment. The Guardian.2 November 2011
10. http://www.pnas.org/content/108/43/E871 Methane contamination of drinking water –
a letter. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
11. http://www.pnas.org/content/108/37/E665nt/108/37/E665 Methane contamination of
drinking water – a letter. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
12. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/126689.aspx The Environment
Agency, information on regulation.
13. The Environment Protection Agency, USA Hydraulic Fracturing
14. www.halliburton.com Listings of fluid compositions for many wells.
15. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1100682108 Methane contamination of drinking
water – Osborn et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
Other references of interest:
• Dept. of Energy & Climate Change : Oil & Gas general information
• PBU UK Ltd . Directional drilling
• bgs_mpfoilgas.pdf information ; Onshore Oil and Gas.
• tyndallcentre_shale_gas_report.pdf Shale gas: a provisional assessment of
• climate change and environmental impacts. Wood, Gilbert, Sharmina &
Anderson.2011
• epa_study_plan.pdf Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing
on Drinking Water Resources.January 2011
• Natural England
No comments:
Post a Comment