Should fracking stop?

Howarth, Robert W.; Ingraffea, Anthony R.; Engelder, Terry

doi:10.1038/477271a

Cited by 487 publications

(259 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…These concerns include changes in air quality (6), human health effects for workers and people living near well pads (5), induced seismicity (7), and controversy over the greenhouse gas balance (8,9). Perhaps the biggest health concern remains the potential for drinking water contamination from fracturing fluids, natural formation waters, and stray gases (4, 10-12).…”

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confidence: 99%

Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction

Jackson

Vengosh²,

Darrah³

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

505

475

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Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are transforming energy production, but their potential environmental effects remain controversial. We analyzed 141 drinking water wells across the Appalachian Plateaus physiographic province of northeastern Pennsylvania, examining natural gas concentrations and isotopic signatures with proximity to shale gas wells. Methane was detected in 82% of drinking water samples, with average concentrations six times higher for homes <1 km from natural gas wells (P = 0.0006). Ethane was 23 times higher in homes <1 km from gas wells (P = 0.0013); propane was detected in 10 water wells, all within approximately 1 km distance (P = 0.01). Of three factors previously proposed to influence gas concentrations in shallow groundwater (distances to gas wells, valley bottoms, and the Appalachian Structural Front, a proxy for tectonic deformation), distance to gas wells was highly significant for methane concentrations (P = 0.007; multiple regression), whereas distances to valley bottoms and the Appalachian Structural Front were not significant (P = 0.27 and P = 0.11, respectively). Distance to gas wells was also the most significant factor for Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses (P < 0.01). For ethane concentrations, distance to gas wells was the only statistically significant factor (P < 0.005). Isotopic signatures (δ 13 C-CH 4 , δ 13 C-C 2 H 6 , and δ 2 H-CH 4 ), hydrocarbon ratios (methane to ethane and propane), and the ratio of the noble gas 4 He to CH 4 in groundwater were characteristic of a thermally postmature Marcellus-like source in some cases. Overall, our data suggest that some homeowners living <1 km from gas wells have drinking water contaminated with stray gases.carbon, hydrogen, and helium isotopes | groundwater contamination | geochemical fingerprinting | fracking | hydrology and ecology

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction

Jackson

Vengosh²,

Darrah³

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

505

475

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“…The potential constraints from environmental issues are not included. Taking shale gas as an example, extracting shale gas may result in many environmental problems, including methane emissions, water use, water pollution, and induced earthquakes (Howarth and Ingraffea 2011;Entrekin et al 2011;Frohlich 2012). Among these, water issues may be the most significant constraining factor for China shale's gas development.…”

Section: Non-conventional Gas Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of physical supply and EROI of fossil fuels in China

et al. 2017

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This paper reviews China's future fossil fuel supply from the perspectives of physical output and net energy output. Comprehensive analyses of physical output of fossil fuels suggest that China's total oil production will likely reach its peak, at about 230 Mt/year (or 9.6 EJ/year), in 2018; its total gas production will peak at around 350 Bcm/year (or 13.6 EJ/year) in 2040, while coal production will peak at about 4400 Mt/year (or 91.9 EJ/year) around 2020 or so. In terms of the forecast production of these fuels, there are significant differences among current studies. These differences can be mainly explained by different ultimately recoverable resources assumptions, the nature of the models used, and differences in the historical production data. Due to the future constraints on fossil fuels production, a large gap is projected to grow between domestic supply and demand, which will need to be met by increasing imports. Net energy analyses show that both coal and oil and gas production show a steady declining trend of EROI (energy return on investment) due to the depletion of shallow-buried coal resources and conventional oil and gas resources, which is generally consistent with the approaching peaks of physical production of fossil fuels. The peaks of fossil fuels production, coupled with the decline in EROI ratios, are likely to challenge the sustainable development of Chinese society unless new abundant energy resources with high EROI values can be found.

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“…The interaction between abundant natural gas and greenhouse gas mitigations policies is another issue in need of further examination 9,10 . Finally, we note that the global deployment of improved natural gas extraction technology carries implications not only for climate change, but also for many other important concerns including air and water quality, energy security, access to modern energy, and economic growth 1,2,8 .…”

Section: Research Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some researchers have observed that abundant natural gas substituting for coal could reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions [3][4][5][6] . Others have reported that the non-CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions associated with shale gas production make its lifecycle emissions higher than those of coal 7,8 . Assessment of the full impact of abundant gas on climate change requires an integrated approach to the global energyeconomy-climate systems, but the literature has been limited in either its geographic scope 9,10 or its coverage of greenhouse gases 2 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%