#uk fracking

Week in Brief (14–18 August)

Credit: ProgressOhio

The geology of the UK doesn’t support fracking according to Professor John Underhill, Chief Scientist at Heriot-Watt University, UK.

Hydraulic fracturing – the controversial method of energy production – involves pumping a fluid into rocks containing energy deposits, whereby the water pressure forces fractures to appear in the rocks allowing gas or oil to be released and captured.

However, while previous arguments against fracking has centered on its environmental and safety impacts, Underhill’s research claims the main issue is a more practical one.

Underhill commented, ‘Both sides of the hydraulic fracturing debate assume that the geology is a “slam dunk” and it will work if exploration drilling goes ahead. Public support for fracking is at an all-time low of 17% based, in the main, on environmental concerns but the science shows that our country's geology is simply unsuitable for shale oil and gas production [...] For hydraulic fracturing to be successful, a number of geological criteria must be met. The source rock should have a high organic content, a good thickness, be sufficiently porous, and have the right mineralogy. The organic matter must have been buried to a sufficient depth and heated to the degree that the source rock produces substantial amounts of gas or oil.’

Underhill claims the UK’s geology, with uplift and a faulted geological structure in some potential fracking sites, means the potential for energy recovery is slim. Pointing to three potential fracking sites – the Bowland Shale in Lancashire, the West Lothian Oil Shale in Scotland and the Weald basin in southern England –Underhill explains how deformation could be an issue to gas extraction.

Underhill commented, ‘There is a need to factor this considerable and fundamental geological uncertainty into the economic equation. It would be extremely unwise to rely on shale gas to ride to the rescue of the UK's gas needs only to discover that we’re 55 million years too late.’

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Fracking in Lancashire given go-ahead by government

Credit: Alexandru Nika/Shutterstock

The Government has approved fracking for shale gas at the Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site in Lancashire, UK, but Sajid Javid has asked for more information on another.

It means, for the first time, UK shale rock will be fracked horizontally, which is expected to yield more gas. A second site, Roseacre Wood in Preston has not yet been given the green light amid concerns over the impact on the area.

In response to the decision, LCC has called on the government to do more to address people's concerns about fracking. The government says it is committed to fracking and has given the go-ahead to several other explorations of potential sites. It is likely that Javid’s decision will herald the opening of more wells.

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