Hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’, was given the green light in the UK by a review into the technique for extracting shale gas.
The review carried out by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering into fracking for shale gas claims that the risk is low as long as it is well regulated.
“The health, safety and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing as a means to extract shale gas can be managed effectively in the UK as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation,” the report said.
It was feared the process, which involves pumping high-pressure fluid into shale rock to release gas, was harmful to the environment, with effects such as groundwater contamination, as well as causing earthquakes.
But the review has given fracking a clean bill of health.
“More likely causes of possible environmental contamination include faulty wells, and leaks and spills associated with surface operations,” the report continued.
“Neither cause is unique to shale gas. Both are common to all oil and gas wells and extractive activities.”
The study also claimed that seismic events caused by fracking are likely to be even weaker than those triggered by coal mining; a practice which has been around in the UK for a long time.
Proactive Investors UK
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