I’ve been seeing an increase of stories in the news recently about ordinary people rising up, and standing up against plans for fracking in their local area. Using assertive, yet relatively peaceful, campaigning method; I’ve seen everyone from passionate, student activists to concerned, middle-aged housewives taking to the streets with placards, or writing forceful letters of objection to their MPs. This subject is a hot bed for debate in the UK right now, and everyone’s in on it.

But I must admit, until not long ago, I had largely been oblivious to what fracking actually was; simply relaxing into the view that it was something that was bad for the environment but too technical for me to understand. I’m guessing I’m not the only one to shy away from the more industrial side of sustainability, so I thought a “Fracking in a nutshell” post might be helpful! (plus I’m a massive Battlestar Gallactica fan so have been dying to over use the word Frack for years!)

OK, so what is fracking?

Put simply, fracking is an industrial process of drilling down deep into the earth to create new pathways, or use existing channels, in order to release gas and oil for use as an energy supply. This process involves drilling vertically or horizontally into a shale rock layer and blasting a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals into the rock to release the gas and oil inside.

About half of this mixture comes back to the surface and needs to be treated, whilst the other half stays underground where its movement from there on-wards is uncontrolled.

A handy site for a much more informed description is the aptly named: www.what-is-fracking.com

Fracking in the UK

Estimates of how much shale gas is under the UK differ greatly, but reserves could be substantial, especially in the north of England. key areas currently being investigated are parts of Lancashire; the Weald in South East England running roughly from Kent through Sussex to Hampshire; the East Midlands and parts of Northern Ireland.

Whilst many areas of the UK are already covered by licences allowing fracking, the general public appears to be pushing back quite forcefully. You can view a map here of current site applications.

As reported this week, analysis conducted by The Guardian has revealed that fracking is set to be banned on two-fifths of the land in England (equating to 60% of English landmass) being offered for shale gas exploration by the government. This  ban could be a significant blow to the UK’s fracking industry, which The Guardian say: “David Cameron and George Osborne have enthusiastically backed.”

What are the advantages of fracking?

From reports and articles I have read, it appears there are some strong arguments for why fracking is the way forward in sourcing future energy supplies. As fracking opens up access to hard to reach resources of oil and gas, it can significantly increase domestic supplies, whilst keeping the cost of gas down (though this is debated!). It’s estimated that recent fracking in the US and Canada has offered gas security for about 100 years.

Some also argue that it is in fact beneficial to the environment; as fracking in North America has presented the opportunity to continue to meet the demands of electricity consumption whilst halving the CO2 emissions made from coal.

Industry suggests (though we shall take their opinions with a pinch of salt…) that fracking of shale gas could contribute significantly to the UK’s future energy needs. However, a report by the Energy and Climate Change Committee in April 2013 pointed out that shale gas in the UK may well help to secure energy supplies, but not necessarily bring down gas prices.

So why is fracking controversial?

So, if fracking could offer a source of energy, reduce coal CO2 omissions and, to a level, reduce domestic costs…why are people so up in arms about it? It all boils down to three main issues:

Water:

The huge amount of water used in the drilling process – which must also be transported to the fracking site – has a significant environmental impact. Not only does this have damaging effects on already shortening water supplies, but it also inadvertently produces a big old carbon footprint in the process.

In addition, some are concerned that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used in the fracking process may escape and contaminate groundwater around the site; both on top and under the ground. Where fracking is close to areas of habitation, risk of water and crop contamination is a concern not just for wildlife, but also human health too.

It is important to note, just for balance in the argument, that in response to campaigners arguments for this fear of water contamination, the UK Government insists its tougher regulations mean none of that happens in the UK.

Earthquakes & environmental damage:

Drilling deep into the ground and breaking up rock, to extract natural gases, is generally damaging for the landscape of an area. Many local residents campaigning against fracking are doing so simply out of concern for their surrounding countryside and the effect it will have on the land; both with the drilling site itself, and the construction of new roads leading to the site.

There are also worries that fracking can cause small earth tremors; of which two small earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude have already hit the Blackpool area in 2011 following fracking.

Renewables:

Finally, environmental campaigners suggest that fracking is simply distracting energy firms and governments from investing in renewable sources of energy, and encouraging continued reliance on fossil fuels. Regardless of its effects on the environment now, it seems a no brainer that if fracking is not sustainable for the future, we should really be concentrating our efforts on long term solutions like wind, solar and wave power.

Friends of the Earth suggest this is also a popular view of the UK public: with 85% of people wanting to see more energy produced from renewable sources and two-thirds wanting renewables to be providing more of their electricity in 10 years. This is compared to just 2% for gas.

                                                                                                                                                         

It’s also worth having a quick read of The Guardians article “Fracking hell: what it’s really like to live next to a shale gas well” including an interesting film highlighting how fracking has affected one local resident in Texas.

                                                                                                                                 

Needless to say, its a tricky subject with many conflicting views both for and against fracking. With Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Artists Against Fracking and even bigger brands like the Co Op all campaigning against the industry, only time will tell how far fracking firms and The UK Governement’s plans come to fruition. 

What are your thoughts on fracking?

 Further Reading:

• http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/9011/20140912/the-pros-and-cons-of-fracking.htm
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/02/fracking-set-to-be-banned-from-40-of-englands-shale-areas
• http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/9011/20140912/the-pros-and-cons-of-fracking.htm
• http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/fracking_summary_2013.pdf
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511001893
• http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/fracking
• http://www.co-operative.coop/our-ethics/our-plan/protecting-the-environment/clean-energy-revolution/fracking/
• http://www.what-is-fracking.com/
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/02/fracking-set-to-be-banned-from-40-of-englands-shale-areas
• http://www.dangersoffracking.com/