"shale revolution" is obviously seriously seizes the minds of politicians and businessmen around the world.Palm in this area kept the Americans, but, apparently, there is a possibility that the rest of the world will soon join them.Of course, there are countries where practically been producing shale gas - in Russia, for example, a major percentage of this undertaking political and business elites is quite skeptical.This is not so much a factor of economic profitability.The most important factor that may affect the prospects for this industry as shale gas - the consequences for the environment.Today we will examine this aspect.
What is shale gas?
But first - a small theoretical digression.What is shale gas?It is minerals that are extracted from a special type of minerals - oil shale.The primary method by which shale gas is conducted, the consequences of which we are now guided by the positions of experts study - freking, or hydraulic fracturing.He made something like this.In the bowels of the earth is introduced into the tube almost horizontally, and one of its branches is displayed on the surface.
During frekinga in the gas is pressurized, which contributes to the output of shale gas upstairs where he is going.The most popular production of the said mineral purchased in North America.According to the calculations of some experts, the growth of revenue within the industry in the US market over the past few years has made several hundred percent.However, the undisputed economic success in terms of developing new methods of production of "blue fuel" can be accompanied by enormous problems associated with the extraction of shale gas.Wear them, as we have said, the ecological character.
harm to the environment
what the US and other energy countries should, according to experts, to pay special attention while working in an area such as shale gas, - the consequences for the environment.The most important threat to the environment is fraught with the main method of extracting minerals from the earth.It is about the frekinge.It is, as we have said, is the supply of water in the Earth's formation (under very high pressure).Such exposure could have a pronounced negative effect on the environment.
Reagents in action
Technological features frekinga - is not the only environmental risk.Current methods of shale gas production involve the use of several hundred species chemically active and potentially toxic substances.What does this mean?The fact that the development of the respective fields requiring the use of large amounts of fresh water.Its density is usually less than what is peculiar to groundwater.And because light liquid layers, one way or another, may eventually rise to the surface and reach the mixing zone with drinking sources.Thus they are likely to contain toxic impurities.
Moreover, the variant in which the water is easy to return to the surface is not contaminated with chemicals, and it is quite natural, but still harmful to human health and the environment substances that may be contained in the depths of the Earth's interior.Significant moment: it is known that the planned production of shale gas in Ukraine, in the Carpathian region.However, experts of one of the research centers carried out a study, which found: layers of land in those regions that are supposed to contain shale gas, characterized by a high content of metals - nickel, barium, uranium.
Rendering technology
By the way, a number of experts from Ukraine calls attention not only to the problems of shale gas in terms of the use of hazardous substances, many shortcomings in technology used by gas.Representatives of the scientific environment of Ukraine in one of his reports on environmental issues put forward relevant abstracts.What is their essence?Conclusions Scientists generally boil down to the fact that shale gas production in Ukraine could cause significant damage to soil fertility.The fact that with the technologies that are utilized to isolate pollutants, some material will be placed under the arable soil.Accordingly, something to grow on them, in the upper layers of the soil, will be problematic.
Ukrainian bowels
there among Ukrainian experts also fears of a possible expenditure of drinking water, which may be a strategically important resource.However, in 2010, when the shale revolution is gaining momentum Ukrainian authorities issued a license for prospecting for shale gas companies to the level of ExxonMobil and Shell.In 2012, it was carried out drilling of exploratory wells in the Kharkiv region.
This could indicate, experts say, the interest of the Ukrainian authorities in the development of "shale" prospects are likely to reduce the dependence on gas supplies from Russia.But now it is not known, according to analysts, what are the prospects for further work in this area (due to the known political events).
Problem freking
continuing argument about the shortcomings of technology of shale gas, can also pay attention to other remarkable thesis.In particular, when frekinge can be used, some substances derived from petroleum.They are utilized as a fracturing fluid.In this part of their use may lead to significant deterioration of the degree of permeability of rocks to water flows.In order to avoid this, the gas company can use water, which utilizes soluble chemical derivatives of compounds similar in structure to cellulose.And they are a serious threat to human health.
salts and radiation
were precedents when the presence of chemical substances in the waters in the vicinity of shale wells were recorded by scientists, not only in the billing aspect but also in practice.After analyzing the water drains into the sewage treatment plant in Pennsylvania, experts found a much higher than normal levels of salts - chlorides, bromides.Some of the substances found in water, can react with atmospheric gases - for example, ozone, resulting in toxic products may be formed.Also, in some layers of mineral resources located in areas where shale gas is extracted, the Americans discovered radium.Which, respectively, is radioactive.Apart from salt and radium in the water, which are concentrated in areas where the primary method used for shale gas (freking), scientists have found various types of benzene, toluene.
Legal Loophole
Some lawyers point out that the damage to the environment caused by American gas companies "shale" profile is almost a law of nature.The fact is that in 2005 the United States adopted a legal act, by which method frekinga, or hydraulic fracturing, was derived from the monitoring of the Agency for Environmental Protection.The agency, in particular, to see to it that the American businessmen acted in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the protection of drinking water.
However, with the adoption of a new legal act, US companies were able to operate beyond the control of the Agency.It has become possible, experts say, shale oil and gas in the vicinity of underground sources of drinking water.And this despite the fact that the Agency in one of the studies concluded that the sources continue to be polluted, and not so much in the process of frekinga as some time after completion.Analysts believe that the law was passed not without political pressure.
Freedom in European
number of experts focuses on the fact that not only the Americans but also Europeans are not willing to understand what is dangerous in the shale gas potential.In particular, the European Commission, developing sources of law in different sectors of the economy of the EU, did not begin to create a separate law regulating the environmental issues in the industry.Office limited, analysts emphasize, only publishing recommendations, virtually no non-binding energy companies.
However, on the observations of experts, Europeans are not too eager for an early start of work on the extraction of natural gas in practice.It is possible that all of the discussions in the EU, which are related to the "slate" theme - only political speculation.And in fact, the Europeans, in principle, are not going to develop unconventional gas production method.At least in the near future.
the appeal
There is evidence that in areas of the United States, where shale gas is, the consequences of the ecological character have made themselves felt - and not just at the level of industrial research, but also among ordinary citizens.The Americans, who live next door to the well where applicable freking, began to notice that the water from the tap as much lost.They are trying to protest against shale gas in their area.However, their capabilities, as experts believe, can not be compared with the resources of energy corporations.Business scheme implemented fairly simple.If you have any complaints from the citizens they form "expert opinions" by hiring ecologists.In accordance with these documents, drinking water has to be in order.If citizens are not satisfied with the paper, the gas companies, according to a number of sources, pay them compensation out of court instead of signing agreements not to disclose information about such transactions.As a result, a citizen loses the right to report something to the press.
Verdict not burden
If the lawsuits yet initiated, the decisions made not in favor of energy companies, in fact, are not highly burdensome for the gas industry.In particular, some of these corporations undertake to deliver for its citizens by drinking water from clean sources or to install pollution control equipment for them.But if in the first case, the affected residents, in principle, can be satisfied, in the second - according to experts - a special reason for optimism may not be, as some hazardous substances may still seep through the filters.
authorities decide
Among the experts are of the opinion that the interest in oil shale in the United States, as well as in many other countries around the world, more political.This, in particular, may be indicative of the fact that many gas corporation supported by the government - especially in this aspect, as tax incentives.The economic viability of the "shale revolution" experts estimate is ambiguous.
Factor drinking water
Earlier we talked about the fact that Ukrainian experts cast doubt on the prospects for shale gas production in the country, largely due to the factor that the technology frekinga may require spending large amounts of drinking water.It should be noted that similar concerns were expressed and specialists from other countries.The fact that the shortage of drinking water and without shale gas is already the case in many parts of the world.And it is likely that such a situation may soon be observed in developed countries.A "shale revolution", of course, will only accelerate this process.
ambiguous slate
is believed that shale gas production in Russia and other countries are not being developed at all or, at least, does not occur at a pace as in America, just the same because we have discussed factors.It is primarily, the risks of environmental contamination by toxic and sometimes radioactive, compounds having a place to be at frekinge.It is also a probability of depletion of reserves of drinking water, which may soon even in developed countries become a resource, in order of importance is not inferior to natural gas.Of course, it is taken into account also the economic component - among academics there is no consensus on the profitability of shale.
