Frack to the Future? Will the UK start fracking to meet it's energy needs?

I genuinely thought that I had come up with an original blog post title. But a quick Google search told me that it has been used by everyone from the New Scientist to The Sun. A truly terrible blow to my ego...

Nonetheless, we must find the strength to continue and discuss today’s topic: fracking. 

What is fracking?

Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, involves drilling down into the earth and directing a high-pressure water mixture at the rock to release the gas contained within it. The high pressures at which water, chemicals and sand are injected into the rock allows gas to flow out to the well’s head. The process is usually carried out by drilling horizontally into a layer of rock, creating pathways to release gas. 

The shale gas extraction process. Source: BBC

What’s happening in the UK?

Although fracking has been commonplace in the North Sea oil and gas fields since the 1970s, the general public only became aware of the technique in 2007 when it was proposed to be used for onshore shale gas wells.

Fracking has been in and out of the press since then, with stories related to the latest plans on where to drill and protests by environmental campaigners. The last major news story related to fracking, in the news a couple of weeks ago, stated that the new prime minister, Theresa May, would allow people who live near shale gas exploration sites to be given cash payments of £20,000 so that they “benefit” from the developments. This has led Shadow Energy Secretary Barry Gardiner to accuse the prime minister of bribing people to make a decision which will not actually benefit them.

Fracking protests have been taking place across the UK for years.

Even though shale gas drilling is only at an exploratory stage in the UK, large amounts of controversy and debate have surrounded the mere thought of onshore fracking in the UK. For example, in 2011, Cuadrilla suspended test fracking operations near Blackpool after earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 and 2.2 hit the area. A study later found it “highly probable” that the drilling process triggered these quakes.  

There are also concerns about fracking in areas of natural beauty and the detrimental impacts this would have on northern landscapes where much of the UK’s gas reserves lie. The British Geological Survey estimated that northern England has 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas resources. With current UK gas consumption at 2.5 trillion cubic feet a year, these reserves would keep us ticking over at the same rate for 520 years. In January 2015, MPs pledged an “outright ban” on fracking in national parks, but by December they voted to allow fracking at 1,200m below national parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and World Heritage Sites, 

Shale gas reserves coincide with areas of natural beauty and National Parks in several areas.
Source: BBC

What’s happened in other parts of the world?

There are also cautionary tales from fracking operations in the U.S.A, many of which are related to contaminated water. Although only roughly 2% of the water consists of toxic chemicals, when billions of gallons of fluid are being used this amounts to a significant amount of contamination. The oil and gas industry has little knowledge of what to do with the contaminated water they are creating, and fracking wastes and fluids have penetrated drinking water and aquifers across several U.S. states, with a 2015 Environmental Protection Agency report finding more than 150 cases of contamination.

Other issues relate to air quality surrounding drilling sites and potential greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Colorado has seen air pollution spikes in close proximity to fracking wells and there is uncertainty as to how much methane is being released to the atmosphere from the fracking process.

Lastly, and perhaps most spectacularly, homeowners in fracking regions have reported being able to light water coming out of their kitchen sinks on fire due to gas contamination of their water supplies from fracking wells. 

What are the advantages of fracking?

After reading all of those problems, you’re probably wondering why we are even considering pursuing fracking as an option. Well of course, from an industrial point of view there are advantages. The fracking process allows drilling companies to access difficult-to-reach oil and gas reserves. In the U.S.A, oil production has been significantly boosted and gas prices have fallen. The process has potential to give the U.S.A and Canada gas security for about 100 years and could be used to generate electricity with half the carbon dioxide emissions of using coal.

A similar story could arise in the UK, with industry suggesting fracking of shale gas could contribute significantly to future energy needs and thousands of jobs would be created by allowing the process to proceed. Recent National Grid estimates state that without shale gas extraction, the UK could be importing over 90% of its gas by 2040, so steps clearly need to be taken to increase energy supply security.

Overall, the fracking debate looks likely to rumble on, with those that stand to benefit from it facing a bitter battle with the general public and environmental groups. The opposition’s environmental concerns are refuted by industry, who say the process won’t have the speculated negative impacts if carried out professionally.

Personally, however, I am inclined to think that we should be concentrating our efforts and incentives on renewable sources of energy, and ensuring a more secure energy future through those methods rather ploughing more money into fossil fuels. The risks of fracking just don’t seem worth it to me.

Til next time

Rob