New report highlights fracking technical difficulties
The technical difficulties encountered in extracting shale gas – so-called fracking– mean new wells need to be continually drilled, sometimes on a monthly basis, a new report will reveal today.
The report, by the Global Energy Watch Group will be made public at a press conference in the House of Commons. It comes as another report, by UK scientists, suggests that Britain should use natural gas, including from shale, to replace coal and help cut carbon emissions.
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Fracking involves using high-pressure liquid to split rock and extract the gas. Exploratory work in Lancashire in 2011 caused two small earthquakes. Campaigners from Frack Free Somerset fear that proposed exploration in the area of the old north Somerset coalfield could have catastrophic consequences for the hot springs of Bath, and its tourism industry, as well as other environmental problems.
Welsh-based company UK Methane recently withdrew an application to explore for gas at Hicks Gate, Keynsham, but says it intends to apply for planning permission for a full production facility there. The company maintains that the technology is safe and may benefit the economy.
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The new British report, from the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics warns that it would be risky to assume gas prices will be low in the coming years or that the UK has extensive supplies of shale gas.
It adds that gas-fired power stations can only play a significant role in generating electricity beyond 2030 if they are fitted with technology to trap and store their carbon emissions. Chancellor George Osborne has provoked controversy with moves that signalled a new “dash for gas” including proposing tax relief for shale gas exploitation.
Fracking was put on hold as a result of the Lancashire earthquakes but Energy Secretary Ed Davey ruled last December that the process could resume in the UK.
The Global Energy Watch Group report into the state of the world’s energy supplies will reveal the difficulties the USA is facing in fracking. It says that within days of finding a supply of shale gas the extraction difficulties result in an almost immediate production decline of 7-10 per cent per month.
To maintain output a rolling programme of new wells need to be drilled. As a result in Arkansas the Fayetteville Shale Field, covers approximately 800 square miles. To extract the shale gas there are currently 3,068 wells. To maintain production as the wells decline 50 new wells have to be drilled each month.
There is only limited potential for shale supplies in the West Country. Campaigners now fear that wells could proliferate in areas such as north Somerset.
Wells MP Tessa Munt said yesterday that she welcomed: “This invaluable report. It is of particular interest for Somerset.”
Last month Glastonbury Town Council passed a resolution that it would not support fracking in Mendip.
It is concerned that the process might affect the town’s two sacred wells and the local spring water company.
11 Comments
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by Yetypu
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 12:21AM
“Thank you for your reply Tim. Since I have spelled it 'fraccing' for 40 years, I trust you'll allow me to continue. It is definitely the older form.
What do you consult in?
Well construction & completion {& abandonment} is a vast subject - if I can ever clarify anything for you, please let me know.
{the posts are going crazy tonight, are they not}”
by Tim_Richards
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:21PM
“Michael,
Thank you for your clarification.
Let me now clarify that no I am not the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset, I didn't know there was one. Nor do I have anything whatsoever to do with their website or its content, nor do they with my blog.
You have cherry-picked an external link (from a broad spectrum of views) on my blog and conflated it with a comment made by Frack Free Somerset and come to the wrong conclusion, which is neither correct nor informative.
Yes I am aware of the spelling of fracturing. The British Geological Survey spell fracking with a 'k' and so do we in Somerset – otherwise people might think you weren't from around here.
Michael,
Thank you for your clarification.
Let me now clarify that no I am not the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset, I didn't know there was one. Nor do I have anything whatsoever to do with their website or its content, nor do they with my blog.
You have cherry-picked an external link (from a broad spectrum of views) on my blog and conflated it with a comment made by Frack Free Somerset and come to the wrong conclusion, which is neither correct nor informative.
Yes I am aware of the spelling of fracturing. The British Geological Survey spell fracking with a 'k' and so do we in Somerset – otherwise people might think you weren't from around here.”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 6:20PM
“Apologies for multiple posts - site was advising posts failed due to an 'undefined' term, so each has a subtle change. & eventually they all appeared - sorry.”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:47PM
“Tim Richards, I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset.
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex and the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate and helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 and I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 and have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed and I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas and coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? (answer) Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe and propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in "fracturing", is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", and that hydraulic fracturing was far from being the actual problem:
http://tinyurl.com/bosuxll”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:45PM
“Tim Richards - I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset.
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex and the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate and helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 and I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 and have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed and I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas and coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? (answer) Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe and propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in "fracturing", is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", and that hydraulic fracturing was far from being the actual problem:
http://tinyurl.com/bosuxll”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:43PM
“Tim Richards - I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset?
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex and the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate and helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 and I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 and have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed and I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas and coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? (answer) Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe and propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in 'fracturing', is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", and that hydraulic fracturing was far from being the actual problem:
http://tinyurl.com/bosuxll”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:36PM
“Tim Richards - I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset?
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex & the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate - & helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 & I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 & have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed, & I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas & coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? ... [answer] Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe & propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in 'fracturing', is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", & that hydraulic fracturing was not the problem:”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:33PM
“Tim Richards - I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset?
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex & the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate - & helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 & I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 & have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed, & I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas & coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? ... [answer] Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe & propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in 'fracturing', is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", & that hydraulic fracturing was not the problem:
http://tinyurl.com/bosuxll”
by Yetypu
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:32PM
“@ Tim Richards - I assume you are the Tim Richards of Frack Free Somerset?
I am not local to Somerset, but I have close family who are, as also to Sussex & the Karoo. I am quarter Irish. I have no corporate links, anywhere. I trust that answers your questions.
The point of below-the-line comments is not who made them, nor yet why - it is only whether they are accurate - & helpful to the discussion of the above the line topic.
My first job was in a mine lab in 1960 & I have always been associated with extractive industries, or the management thereof. Since I performed my first frac in 1973 & have done them on 3 continents I think I am fairly uniquely competent to comment on them.
On your site I find "We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction. Once fracking takes place contamination of land and water is inevitable. You cannot do it safely".
I fully support the first sentence, while I find the other 2 rather silly. I wish everyone involved to be fully informed, & I I have been part of the safe performance of many fracs, when no land or water was contaminated. By the way, I think there are a great differences, which might be critical, between shale gas & coal bed methane. My posts are aimed at informing, or correcting misinformation, however passionate.
On your blog, there is a link to an interesting question: "WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE SCIENTIFICALLY UNTRUE THINGS? ... [answer] Because to do otherwise would be immoral". Can it really be that Frack Free Somerset believe it moral to believe & propagate scientific untruths?
By the way, the use of the "k", which is not present in 'fracturing', is characteristic of those unfamiliar with the technique. Dr Anthony Ingraffea made a point of stating both that there was no "k", & that hydraulic fracturing was not the problem:
http://tinyurl.com/bosuxll”
by Tim_Richards
Monday, March 18 2013, 10:56PM
“Mr Yetypu - aka Michael Baker
My name is Tim Richards and I live in Somerset within the PEDL licensed by UK Methane Ltd. You have got me wondering if you are a local to Somerset or not? I can't help but notice that as well as posting comments in This is Somerset you also comment on fracking (we spell it with a 'k' over here) stories in This is Bath, This is Derbyshire, This is Leicestershire, Gas Drilling in Balcombe, Gentle Wisdom and the Daily Maverick in South Africa, - who say that Michael Baker is "a retired member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers with extensive experience of hydraulic fracturing". Perhaps I have got it wrong but in the interests of transparency it would be useful if you would clarify to the people of Somerset if you are a local, if you are associated with the Michael Baker Corporation in the USA and why you are so interested in commenting on fracking stories in the local press across the UK and in particular here in Somerset?”