The Environmental Impact of Shale Gas

abarrelfull wrote on 12 Aug 2011 14:11
Tags: environment gas shale usa

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Shale gas has got a huge amount of bad publicity recently. Some of it might be warranted, but much of it seems to be detached from reality. Those whose allergy to fossil fuels is absolute, are dismayed at the possibility of significant reductions in CO² emissions, without giving up on the devil's fuel.

So it is nice to see reports that take a more mature reflection of the reality.

The Shale Gas Subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board has published a report.

They come up with a number of recommendations about the sector which seem very sensible, including greater transparency and better communication between federal and state regulators. Encouraging best practise is also called for.

Its a recognition that Shale gas is important, and must be handled properly.

Meanwhile in answer to an earlier report that criticised the CO2 impact of Shale Gas, This Report from IOP Science, estimates the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the production of Marcellus shale natural gas and compares its emissions with national average US natural gas emissions.

Their conclusion?

It represents an 11% increase in GHG emissions relative to average domestic gas (excluding combustion) and a 3% increase relative to the life cycle emissions when combustion is included.

Not the terrible monster reported by the press then

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Related Pages

• Shale Oil Impact on both sides of the World
• The Madness of The Anti Fracking Crowd
• South America's Bakken, Shale Oil in Argentina and Colombia
• Shell and CNPC sign China's First Shale PSC
• Three Forks, North Dakota's next big thing
• Shale Oil, Is It The New Shale Gas?
• The Environmental Impact of Shale Gas
• Global Shale Gas Potential
• IGas, London Traded Unconventional Gas Company, to buy Nexen UK
• Halliburton Delivers First Shale Fracturing Operation In Poland

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