BGS monitored environmental baseline conditions in relation to potential shale gas development in the UK. Monitoring was carried out in both Fylde in Lancashire and the Vale of Pickering in Yorkshire.
Drilling shallow boreholes in Fylde, Lancashire, for monitoring groundwater quality close to sites proposed for exploration of unconventional hydrocarbons. BGS © UKRI.
Why is it useful?
The shale gas industry is contentious in the UK, where there is very little experience of it. By carrying out a programme of monitoring in areas of the country where there is significant potential for shale gas, interest from the industry and concern from the public, the monitoring aimed to:
- inform communities and operators about baseline conditions in the areas that were being targeted for shale gas exploration and extraction
- help regulators refine their procedures for managing the UK shale gas industry
- provide information to the public to help them understand the effects of shale gas extraction
- improve the understanding of the subsurface and near-surface environments in the UK context of unconventional hydrocarbons, instead of relying on information from North America where conditions are different
- support the development of new techniques for environmental monitoring
- help establish good practice for industries involved in the development of unconventional hydrocarbons
- establish world-leading expertise in the UK that can be applied elsewhere
Contact
Please contact BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk) for further information.
Our research
Environmental baseline monitoring in the Fylde, Lancashire
Science-based environmental monitoring in Lancashire where hydraulic fracturing for shale gas exploration was undertaken.
Environmental baseline monitoring in the Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire
Science-based environmental monitoring in North Yorkshire where hydraulic fracturing for shale gas exploration was proposed.
Scope of monitoring
Information about how we carried out our monitoring with our partners.
Stakeholder engagement
Communicating with the local communities and other stakeholders in the areas of investigation.