Suchergebnisse

To address water planning decisions in shale gas operations, we present a novel water management optimization model that explicitly takes into account the effect of high concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and temporal variations in the impaired water. The model comprises different water management strategies: (a) direct wastewater reuse, which is possible because of new additives tolerant to high TDS concentrations but at the expense of increasing the costs; (b) wastewater treatment, separately taking into account pretreatment, softening, and desalination technologies; and (c) the use of Class II disposal sites. The objective is to maximize the "sustainability profit" by determining the flowback destination (reuse, degree of treatment, or disposal), the fracturing schedule, the fracturing-fluid composition, and the number of water-storage tanks needed for each period of time. Because of the rigorous determination of TDS in all water streams, the model is a nonconvex MINLP model that is tackled in two steps: first, an MILP model is solved on the basis of McCormick relaxations; next, the binary variables that determine the fracturing schedule are fixed, and a smaller MINLP is solved. Finally, several case studies based on Marcellus Shale Play are optimized to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulation. The model identifies direct reuse as the best water-management option to improve both economic and environmental criteria. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under grant agreement no. 640979 and from the Spanish Ministerio de Economiá , Industria y Competitividad CTQ2016-77968-C3-02-P (FEDER, UE).

18th European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry (EMEC). Poster (#22) http://emec18.eventos.chemistry.pt/ ; Wastewater management is nowadays one of the major concerns faced by the shale gas industry to improve its cost-effectiveness, while preserving the human health and environment. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations usually demand excessive freshwater consumption and generate large wastewater volumes. The highly polluting nature of shale gas wastewater impels the application of energy-intensive pretreatment and desalination, to allow water reuse in hydraulic fracking processes, water recycling or safe discharge. This work aims to offer an overview of main challenges and perspectives of alternatives for water reuse and recycling in shale gas wastewater management. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 640979.

AbstractLandowners who lease property for shale gas development (i.e., "fracking") face the possibility of procedural disenfranchisement and risk. They also stand to benefit financially from bonus and royalty payments. This article evaluates the frequency with which these experiences occur and how they vary between landowners. Using a mixed‐methods approach, we combine surveys and interviews with northeastern Pennsylvania landowners with a content analysis of energy lease documents. We find that landowners generally experience relatively infrequent environmental harm, receive substantial financial benefits, and leverage their property rights to secure better lease conditions. However, our findings also demonstrate that procedural disenfranchisement does occur, environmental risks are infrequent but real, and outcomes tend to vary by firm‐specific rather than sociostructural factors. Accordingly, the advantages conferred by private property are not a panacea for the alleviation of risk and inequality in energy development. These findings inject considerable nuance into ongoing discussions of risk, inequality, and shale gas development: Rather than perceiving themselves as victims, landowners tend to see themselves as beneficiaries of industry activity, an experience structured directly by their ownership of property and mineral rights.

Cite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2017). The shale gas industry in South Africa: Toward a science action plan. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2017/0019 ; The objective of the conference was to showcase critical national reports on shale gas in South Africa; analyse the regulatory environment; and consolidate common findings and recommendations and provide a platform for debate. The conference was attended by 126 key stakeholders from government, industry and academia. African and international delegates also attend the conference. Among the 126 delegates there were 12 speakers and 9 panellists. The programme was divided into 7 sessions with the last session comprising 2 roundtable discussions. The opening address was delivered by Dr Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology. Further notable representations were made by Mr Jacob Moatshe, Acting Deputy Director-General of Mineral Policy and Promotion at the Department of Mineral Resources (representing the Chair of the governmental Hydraulic Fracturing Monitoring Committee, Advocate Thabo Mokoena (DG of the DMR)), and Ms Busisiwe Khumalo, General Manager at the Eastern Cape office of the Premier. ; Department of Science and Technology

The Chinese government has introduced numerous policies and development plans to boost its shale gas industry in recent years. However, China's shale gas exploration and development is still in the initial stage and has been confronted with many challenges. This paper systematically analyzes the current status of China's shale gas industry from five aspects for the first time—resource situation, exploration and development status, policy and planning situation, technology status and international cooperation—then respectively elaborates on the different obstacles of shale gas development in the short run and the medium and long term. We argue that short-term barriers to the Chinese shale gas industry mainly include objective factors, such as geological and surface conditions, shale gas proven reserves, technology innovation and environmental concerns, while some man-made obstacles (except for water scarcity) may restrict shale gas development in the medium and long term. In order to better tackle the short-term challenges, this paper proposes policy recommendations from five perspectives: strengthening the investigation and evaluation of China's shale gas resources ; perfecting shale gas industry policy ; establishing a national shale gas comprehensive experimental zone ; enhancing scientific and technological research ; and establishing a shale gas regulatory system with an emphasis on environmental protection and supervision.

China has accelerated the pace of shale gas development from 2010. A series of policies were issued by the Chinese government to motivate and regulate shale gas exploration and exploitation. In order to investigate the effectiveness of these policies and provide reference to the policymakers, the most relevant policies from 2010 to 2016 were collected and analyzed. Our study summarized that, in total, eight government agencies issued 25 related policies, which cover all the main problems that impede China&rsquo ; s shale gas industry. With the aid of these policies, the approved research and development (R& ; D) funds exceed 350 million Chinese yuan (CNY) ($55 million), and over 80 domestic companies participated in exploration rights bidding and nine foreign companies initiated thirteen international cooperation projects. In 2016, China&rsquo ; s shale gas production reached 7.88 × ; 109 m3, ranking third in the world. However, these policies still have some shortcomings, such as low environmental concerns, weak financial stimulus, and inefficient implementation. Therefore, we suggest that future policy should put particular emphasis on (1) formulating special environmental regulations and determining development scale based on water resource ; (2) providing detailed implementation plans and maintaining stable subsidy ; (3) enhancing communication and supervision ; and (4) establishing a public big data platform.

The United Kingdom is considered to be shale gas rich with substantial volumes distributed both onshore and offshore. Recent technological development has made shale gas exploration commercially viable. The UK's shale gas industry is at an early stage, with a few companies actively operating in this area and merely a few specific regulations exist for it. Many questions are waiting to be answered, many barriers must be overcome. This article analyses the UK's current state of play for shale gas. First, background information and a brief description of shale gas hydraulic fracturing is given. Government and business points of view will be illustrated and analysed before offering an outlook.

Shale Gas and Fracking: The Science Behind the Controversy explains the relevant geological principles before examining the peer-reviewed evidence and presenting it through a simple and compelling illustrated narrative. Each chapter focuses on a particular controversy, such contamination of well water with gas from fracking, and follows a similar format: starting with the principles; then detailing peer-reviewed case studies for earthquakes, radioactivity, and climate change; and concluding with a judgment of the general risks involved. Shale Gas and Fracking: The Science Behind the Controv

According to the 2011 International Energy Agency data, 60 % of natural gas production in the US comes from unconventional sources. Currently in Europe the commercial production of shale gas has not yet been developed. However, the European Commission estimates that conventional production in those countries which have already made some progress could already start as early as 2015. The 2013 A.T. Kearney report outlines that European resources constitute 7 % of world resources, but the success of shale gas exploration in Europe will depend on a series of economic, political and geographical factors. This paper analyses the potential impact of the development of the shale gas industry in Europe, particularly recoverable potential of shale gas, its impact on the economy, overall EU energy mix, energy prices and the European job market. In addition, the paper briefly discusses the potential impact of shale gas extraction on gas imports and security of supply.

According to the 2011 International Energy Agency data, 60 % of natural gas production in the US comes from unconventional sources. Currently in Europe the commercial production of shale gas has not yet been developed. However, the European Commission estimates that conventional production in those countries which have already made some progress could already start as early as 2015. The 2013 A.T. Kearney report outlines that European resources constitute 7 % of world resources, but the success of shale gas exploration in Europe will depend on a series of economic, political and geographical factors. This paper analyses the potential impact of the development of the shale gas industry in Europe, particularly recoverable potential of shale gas, its impact on the economy, overall EU energy mix, energy prices and the European job market. In addition, the paper briefly discusses the potential impact of shale gas extraction on gas imports and security of supply.

Shale energy development is an issue of global importance. The number of reserves globally, and their potential economic return, have increased dramatically in the past decade. Questions abound, however, about the appropriate governance systems to manage the risks of unconventional oil and gas development and the ability for citizens to engage and participate in decisions regarding these systems. Stakeholder participation is essential for the social and political legitimacy of energy extraction and production, what the industry calls a 'social license' to operate. This book attempts to bring together critical themes inherent in the energy governance literature and illustrate them through cases in multiple countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Germany and Poland. These themes include how multiple actors and institutions – industry, governments and regulatory bodies at all scales, communities, opposition movements, and individual landowners – have roles indeveloping, contesting, monitoring, and enforcing practices and regulations within unconventional oil and gas development. Overall, the book proposes a systemic, participatory, community-led approach required to achieve a form of legitimacy that allows communities to derive social priorities by a process of community visioning.This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy-makers with an interest in shale gas development, and energy policy and governance.