Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is the process of
drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure in
order to fracture shale rocks and release natural gas. The topic is
currently never far away from media interest since the UK mainland
lifted its ban on shale gas fracking in December 2012. Since then
there have been several attempts to set up exploration sites across
the country. So what's all the drama about?
The technique has been around since 1947 and has been used in the
UK for offshore extraction of North Sea oil for many years without
concern. However, using the technique onshore sets rumours adrift
of water from taps being set on fire, increased numbers of
earthquakes and greater global warming. So does fracking deserve
this image problem?
Against fracking?
The technique uses between 1 and 8 million gallons of water per
job and requires 400 tankers to carry water to and from the site.
The water is mixed with sand and approximately 40,000 gallons of
chemicals to create fracking fluid. The chemicals include lead,
mercury, radium, methanol, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde.
Fracking fluid is then pressured injected into the ground causing
the shale rock to crack and the gas or oil to flow into a
well.
The main issue of concern is that methane and other toxic chemicals
are said to leach out into the groundwater contaminating water
supplies. In addition, the waste fracking fluid is left in open air
pits to evaporate, releasing harmful VOC's (volatile organic
compounds) into the atmosphere, creating contaminated air, acid
rain, and ground level ozone. There is also the issue of damage to
property and digging up large areas of British countryside.
It's possible to quote various horror stories which have
emerged surrounding fracking. In the States, a Pennsylvanian family
alleged that a nearby industrial complex using the technique had
contaminated their water supply causing headaches, sore throats and
burning eyes. The family, which included two young children,
reached a $750,000 agreement with the oil company including
imposition of a ban for life on talking about fracking
For fracking?
Hydraulic fracking produces approximately 300,000 barrels of
natural gas a day which some say could solve all our fuel problems.
Experts suggest there may be 150 billion cubic metres of shale gas
under England. If these large amounts of gas are found underneath
the South of England then oil companies and MPs are promising
cheaper gas bills and improved odds that our lights are going to
stay on.
The Prime Minister backs fracking which he says could create tens
of thousands of jobs. The PM claims there is no evidence that the
process causes contamination of water and that gas extraction will
not harm the landscape. The wider implication of the benefits for
the UK economy would seem, in the PM's view, to outweigh any
unsubstantiated side effects. So how does a UK company go about
getting consent to frack?
Legal consent
Largely, companies need the following authorisations in order to carry out fracking:-
- a licence or greater interest from the landowner at ground level and from any other landowners controlling access to the site;
- a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence from the Department for Energy and Climate Change ("DECC");
- well consents from DECC; and
- planning permission from the local authority (the Minerals Planning Authority).
The initial drilling carried out with planning permission in
Balcombe, West Sussex over the summer led to dozens of arrests of
protestors. The energy firm Cuadrilla was given the go ahead three
years ago when planning permission was granted to drill a 3,000ft
(900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore south of
the village in search of oil.
This planning permission expires on 28 September 2013. West Sussex
County Council has said that Cuadrilla had applied to extend
drilling work in Balcombe for six months and increase the height of
a flare at the site - but that application has been withdrawn and a
planning meeting set for 19 September has been cancelled.
Cuadrilla cites a need to resolve potential legal ambiguity about
underground boundaries for a horizontal well below the surface as
the reason for withdrawing the application. The protestors,
however, see it as a victory for the anti-fracking campaign.
Cuadrilla has confirmed that a new planning application will be
lodged for the site and will go in front of a planning committee in
early 2014.
Whether you love it or hate it, hydraulic fracturing is probably
here to stay.
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