Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Impact and Potential of Shale Gas

Anticipating major debate over next few months about extraction of shale gas in the UK. Note the certainty which is held by many significant persons, but I sense its too early to fully commit. but it does seem to me that establishing the potential is a no-brainer. Which is why I met with Cuadrilla, the shale gas developer this week. Would like to visit the Balcombe site in West Sussex to see what's happening, but Cuadrilla have only a couple of weeks left on site - and the drilling there does not involve hydraulic fracturing anyway! Looks like lots of noise and wrong target!

Lets start by considering what we know about potential benefits. Developing UK-sourced shale gas as a major part of our energy mix would create between 50,000 and 100,000 direct jobs, create thousands more jobs in the wider UK manufacturing sector, provide massive tax revenues to the Exchequer, reduce dependency on imports from unstable regions of the world, reduce carbon emissions in several different ways and spread prosperity within the UK from the South East to the North of England. Rather a good CV I'd say.

Major issue for me will be impact on landscape/environment. How much unsightly disturbance will be caused. It seems that the great thickness of the shale seam (far greater than in the US) will allow several wells to be clustered on the same site. I'm told that a site of just two hectares could incorporate 10 wells, creating around 1000 jobs. Compared with onshore wind, the impact on landscape would be small - and the gas would be moved by pipeline rather than pylons!

Hoping that the any opponents of shale gas and 'fracking' will comment outlining the downside. What are the negatives? Those sometimes used are just not credible after minimal research. There is no evidence whatsoever that 'fracking' causes earthquakes. And this stuff about shale gas coming out of taps with the drinking water has been shown to be total nonsense. But we do need to have a regulatory regime in place to ensure o threats to water tables, and that water supplies are adequate.

Not sure how much on an issue this is going to be in Wales. Should find out when the Welsh Affairs Committee look at 'Shale Gas in Wales'. The Bowland Basin comes South as far as Cheshire, but not into Wales at all I think. Its going to be a big, perhaps transformative issue.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did not have time to read your OP/piece/article, but something that you/your readers may/may not know:

The UK will be importing significant amounts of shale gas (i.e., methane derived from shale gas) in a few years from now - the contract (and there will likely be more) was signed a wee while ago (if memory serves). cw

Anonymous said...

How will extracting and burning shale gas reduce carbon emissions, Glyn?

vic doyle said...

the dangers of radium 226 and 228, and the explosives and highly toxic, endochrine system destroying chemicals used is never mentioned on this subject, the highly qualified work of dr ingraffea has informed many many people that there is no real control of whats going on down an 8" steel pipe and concrete assembly up to 2 odd miles underground, especially when its also creating seismic events, the seal is rarely maintained for even a short period let alone the rest of eternity in keeping these toxic chemicals and radiation out of the water table. Look a bit deeper Gary, for all our sakes.

Jac o' the North, said...

I support shale gas extraction with reservations. My fear is that in Wales, as so often in the past, we will be ripped off. Therefore I am inclined to oppose shale gas extraction in Wales until it comes under a Welsh Government that can guarantee the benefits staying within Wales.

As for the naysayers, well, if they'd been right 10, 20, 30 years ago the Seychelles would now be submerged, Britain would have seen no snow for over a decade, and starving polar bears would be roving the streets of Aberdeen. They are scaremongers and they were wrong on all counts. The world is actually cooling.

A good piece on gas extraction - and those who oppose it - can be found here http://bit.ly/15pWSn8

Anonymous said...

The problem is their are going to pump unregulated amount of toxic chemicals into the ground which WILL get into our drinking water devastate crops and livestock and poison the land. Please Glyn watch Gasland and stop getting your info from lobbyists trying to get you to vote their way. No amount of money or jobs are worth the already known atrocities inflicted on ordinary people in the US. Instead invest in the amazing advances in solar energy rather than letting these old school idiots who play the short game for money. I implore you as a Welshman look into outside sources and open your eyes to the long term effects!

John Jones said...

Seems a good idea until you dig a little deeper.I think you will find that the Bowland shale comes down as far as Wrexham.
My question is would you be happy to have it in Berriew under your property?
If you search the internet it seems there are instances of animals dying or getting sick for example:

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/29/15547283-livestock-falling-ill-in-fracking-regions?lite

To quote you "There is no evidence whatsoever that 'fracking' causes earthquakes." Please correct me if I am wrong I thought the drilling was stopped in Lancs because it did cause an 'earthquake'
There is an old saying that states 'if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is'!
All the best to the newborn.

Dave said...

Yet again Glyn, the UK has a mix of energy sources. Shale gas will play part of that mix as will onshore wind energy and a whole host of other sources.
Now, when can we expect to see you turn your attention to some real issues in your constituency that need urgent attention!
Dave.

Anonymous said...

How will fracking effect house prices, tourism, wildlife and local environment?

The Fracking Faerie said...

"Oh look!! Another Tory wilfully ignoring scientific fact so he can get his snout in the trough!"

Watch this video public servant or you may lose your seat in the next election.

http://thoughtmaybe.com/gasland2/

Anonymous said...

There is no issue with respect to drinking water - drinking water can be sourced from sewage if need be; the 'cleaning process' is old tech - it is very easy to remove contaminates from raw water sources - if memory serves there's even an island that gets its drinking water from road run-off which contains some pretty foul stuff. I was a microbiologist and I worked for a water board during my first uni-summer and later worked for a water treatment company. Aluminium and alkalinity (especially in areas where water is collected in reservoirs and not pumped up); some folks still have lead piping in their houses - so having a slightly alkaline water supply in soft water areas is a good thing, can even add some phosphates to coat the lead pipework to reduce lead going into solution. Activated carbon filters remove an incredible amount of stuff; there are areas that use sea water as their source of drinking water and use reverse osmosis to filter out the sodium/chloride ions.

Anonymous said...

Glyn, I do rather like this paragraph. Substitute for onshore wind and well...

Lets start by considering what we know about potential benefits. Developing UK-sourced onshore wind farms as a major part of our energy mix would create between 50,000 and 100,000 direct jobs, create thousands more jobs in the wider UK manufacturing sector, provide massive tax revenues to the Exchequer, reduce dependency on imports from unstable regions of the world, reduce carbon emissions in several different ways and spread prosperity within the UK from the South East to the North of England. Rather a good CV I'd say.

Mike said...

So I take it you would support fracking in Mont?

Anonymous said...

will you become a nimby when they start fracking in oswesrty?