Shale gas is natural gas that is found within shale formations. Trapped within these rock formations the gas is released through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (a process in which water, chemicals, and sand are pumped into the well to unlock the hydrocarbons trapped in shale formations by opening fractures in the rock) allowing large volumes of gas to be released that were previously uneconomical to do so before. Horizontal drilling is used to provide greater access to the gas trapped deep in the producing formation.
Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States over the last 15 years, which has resulted in a widespread interest in gas shales throughout the rest of the world. In 2000 shale gas provided only 1% of U.S. natural gas production; by 2010 it was over 20% and the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration predicts that by 2035, 46% of the United States' natural gas supply will come from shale gas alone.
Europe however, faces a different set of challenges and the extent at which the success of shale gas in the US can be emulated is very much in debate. The variety of legislation and policy throughout the European Community makes multinational operations incredibly difficult, with some countries offering wholehearted support, whilst others have banned it outright, which serves to limit competitiveness and prevent the move away from a reliance on coal importation. The greater population density also means that the impact on local populations is increased, whose opinions are equally polarised. The most contentious issue being the impact that fracking has on the environment.
The extraction and use of shale gas can potentially affect the environment through a number of means- the leaking of chemicals and waste into local water supplies, the leaking of greenhouse gasses during the extraction process, and the pollution caused by the incorrect processing of natural gas, and seismic activity caused by the fracking process itself.
SMi's 4th Shale Gas Environmental Summit will build upon the 2012 events with focussed sessions from industry leaders on today's hot topics in the field, including the legal landscape currently in place in the EU and the evolution of managable policy solutions, monitoring and mitigation methods, cutting edge technology used in maintaining safe and sustainable extraction, improving public engagement and understanding, management of environmental risk and the current research surrounding pollution and seismic activity.
- Sort the myths from the facts surrounding pollution and seismic activity
- Debate legislation currently in place and the evolution of policy for better regulation
- Evaluate the technological advancements in environmentally sustainable fracking solutions
- Analyse public-private awareness & engagement initiatives
- Discuss environmental risk management
- Assess the reality of shale gas as an economically viable alternative to meet the UK and Europe’s increasing energy consumption
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