The quickest Q & A on shale gas youll see all week: Carbon Briefs shale gas back catalogue
If you’ve only just heard of shale gas, Carbon Brief has got two things to say to you: 1. Lucky you! and 2. It’s OK to be confused. Really.
After trawling through media claims and counter-claims and a blizzard of reports from universities, international bodies and thinktanks, here are our answers to your key questions about the country’s newest fossil fuel resource. Click on the links for fuller answers.
Q: What’s shale gas?
A: It’s gas extracted from shale rock using a technique known as fracking, or hydraulic fracturing of the rock.
Q: How much have we got?
The north of England has about 1300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas, according to a recent estimate from the British Geological Survey. That’s a lot – it could be enough to supply the country’s gas for about forty years. There’s some in the south too.
Q: Won’t fracking for shale gas damage the local environment?
A: A collection of official reports say the environmental risks of extracting shale gas – for example earthquakes, pollution of water supplies or overuse of water – are manageable under a strong regulatory system.
Q: So is the shale gas industry well regulated?
A: The guidance for full-scale commercial extraction of shale gas hasn’t been finalised yet. The vast majority of the relevant rules and regulations have already been developed for the conventional oil and gas industry, however.
Q: What will burning shale gas mean for our greenhouse gas emissions?
A: Natural gas releases about about half the carbon emissions of coal when it is burnt. But it’s still a fossil fuel and it could be more complicated than that. Climate experts are worried shale gas could drive emissions up instead of down.
Q: Will UK shale gas mean lower energy bills for consumers?
A: Research suggests UK shale gas may not affect gas prices until the 2020s, and even then it might not happen. One recent report concluded – in its ‘optimistic’ scenario – that exploiting shale gas over here could drive down energy bills by 2030, but only if shale gas production progresses quickly in other parts of the world.
Q: What will shale gas mean for local communities?
A: Under a new benefits package announced by the government, companies have proposed to offer local people £100,000 per well at the exploratory stage, as well as one per cent of revenues once commercial extraction of shale gas gets going.
So in conclusion:
The media battle over shale gas has become polarised – and increasingly confusing. While the pro camp – including Prime Minister David Cameron – is bigging up the fuel’s potential to drive down energy prices, provide jobs and benefit communities, the antis cite safety concerns and warn that shale gas could increase the risks of climate change.
As our quick blast through the key questions shows, it’s best not to necessarilu believe the headlines. It’s usually more complicated than that. If you’re confused about shale gas, you’re probably right.