Shale Gas: Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact - Report Example

Shale Gas: Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact Name Institution Lecturer Course Date Unconventional Energy and Gas Resources Janardhan and Fesmire define unconventional gas as “any source of natural gas that is hard and expensive to harvest” (2011, p. 109). Hard in the sense that harvesting of unconventional energy requires extensive work and expensive in that equipment and processes for harvesting unconventional energy is highly expensive. For instance, harvesting unconventional energy requires the use of heavy, complex and expensive equipments, which are very expensive to operate. There are three main types of unconventional gas resources including shale gas, coalbed methane and tight sands gas (Brendow, 2002). Unconventional energy resources, such as resources for unconventional gas, are found several thousand feet below the surface of the ground. For example, Janardhan and Fesmire indicate that unconventional gas resources can be found as deep as 15,000 feet below earth’s surface with some, such as gases found in Geopressurised zones going as deep as 25,000 feet below the surface of the earth (2011, p. 110). These resources are usually found beneath compacted clay zones. Accordingly, harvesting the energy in these resources is expensive owing to the massive depths at which they are located and the hardness of the ground that have to be broken before reaching the resources. However, despite the difficulty and heavy expenses associated with the harvesting of unconventional energy, the extraction of gas from unconventional sources such as shale gas has been on the increase (Brendow, 2002). Why? The answer to this question is simple; conventional sources of gas have slowly been exhausted despite the increased demand and consumption of gas and energy at large (Janardhan and Fesmire, 2011). Consequently, there is forced attention towards the harvesting of unconventional energy to produce enough energy for consumption despite the negative socio-economic and environmental impacts that such a move presents to the world. This paper seeks to address an unconventional energy, shale gas, from the socio-economic and environmental perspective. The essay finds out that the extraction and use of shale gas has a mix of positive and negative socio-economic impacts and a number of negative environmental impacts. However, shale gas will be extracted and used so long as its resources can produce it. Consequently, there is a dire need to address the negative socio-economic and environmental impacts using a blend of strategies and approaches including the formulation of necessary policies and regulations. Shale Gas Shale gas is found within shales. Shales are sedimentary rocks that are fine graded and located several feet below the earth’s surface. When two shale layers sandwich a thinner layer, natural gas is trapped within the fine graded sedimentary rock. The trapped gas is the known as shale gas (Janardhan and Fesmire, 2011). Clay particles in the sandwiched layer sometimes absorb the trapped gas, but only a little of it is absorbed by the clay particles. There are estimated 3.0 trillion barrels of shale gas trapped in about 600 shale deposits in different parts of the world of which the majority are found in the United States (about 62% of the global shale gas resources), Australia (especially in Queensland), Russia, Morocco, Sweden, Germany and France (Brendow, 2002; Dyni, 2006 & World Energy Council, 2010). Other small deposits are found in several other parts of the world. It is approximated that shale gas provides about 25% of the global gas requirement and that shale deposits will be able to last for about 400 years to come (Bartis et al., 2005). The extraction of shale gas The extraction of shale gas involves the cracking of rocks trapping the gas in order to release the gas trapped within the rocks. This is done through a process known as hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing fluids are used to help in the process of cracking rocks by inducing cracks in the rocks (Janardhan and Fesmire, 2011). Fracturing fluids are a mixture of water and various additives or chemicals. These chemicals and the fracturing processed will be discussed further when looking at the environmental impacts of shale gas. Socio-economic impact of shale gas The socio-economic impacts of shale gas result from the extraction and use of shale gas. This requires an in-depth analysis and understanding of the importance of shale gas. Natural gas, including shale gas, provides about 22% of the world’s energy thereby contributing greatly to industrial and domestic processes, which have a major role in the growth of the economy (Spellman, 2013). Shale gas is clean and has a clean burning nature, which has made it the first choice source of energy in the production of electricity. Shale gas is also widely used in various industries including chemicals, metals, petroleum refining, pulp and paper and food processing industries to provide energy for various operations in these industries. These industries employ millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, these industries where shale gas is widely used employ about 4 million people (Spellman, 2013). These industries also provide millions of indirect employment opportunities to people all over the world. Therefore, the socio-economic impact of shale gas can be clearly seen if shale gas ceases to be used in these industries. It is evident that there would be a major shakeup in the industries causing massive unemployment with a consequent negative social impact. These industries also contribute greatly to the development of the economies of their respective countries. For instance, companies in these industries pay huge taxes to their respective governments. Small business operating in these industries pay taxes while people employed by these industry pay income tax to their respective governments. It is therefore clearly evident that these industries are key pillars of the economy. Indeed, industrialisation is a major economic driver and its success means a lot to the economy. From the social perspective, employees from these industries powered by shale gas get financial power required to carry out various social activities including educating their children. The role of shale gas in the shaping of the socio-economic dimension of the society is realised when one considers that natural gas (including shale gas) is preferred mainly because of the economics associated with the use of shale gas. In simpler terms, shale gas (natural gas in general) is a cost effective source of energy coupled by its clean-burning nature (Spellman, 2013). This has in turn facilitated the growth of the aforementioned industries and hence resulting to the socio-economic impacts as aforementioned. Hydraulic fracturing is a process that provides direct and indirect employment to millions of people worldwide. Direct employment results from people employed to extract the gas, clean it, pack it and transport the ready-to-use gas to various destinations. There are people employed to carry out geotechnical analysis before extraction work is initiated. Indirect employment results from people employed in firms that manufacture chemicals for hydraulic fracturing, equipments, machinery and other facilities used in the extraction of shale gas. This has a positive socio-economic impact similar to the socio-economic impacts of the industries powered by shale gas. Environmental impact of shale gas The environmental impact of shale gas is well seen in the extraction and use of the gas. This therefore requires a clear understanding of the hydraulic process and the use of shale gas especially the way it affects the environment. The hydraulic fracturing process explained The extraction of shale gas requires vertical or horizontal drilling to reach the sedimentary rocks containing the gas. Once the rock is reached, it has to be fractured or cracked in order to release gas withheld. Hydraulic fracturing, a widely used method to extract shale gas, involves the use of water and additives to induce cracks on the gas containing rocks. Additives are added into water to make fracturing fluids that serve two purposes; they induce cracks and transport material (small pieces of broken rocks) to the surface to facilitate further fracturing and gas extraction. The formation being dealt with determines the composition of the fracturing fluids being used thereby determining the amount of additives and hence chemicals added into the water (USSGS, 2013). Simple formations may require the use of pure water while complex formations may require the addition of several additives. The fracturing fluid is then injected into the ground, through the drilled holes, under high pressure and volume. It finds way into small cracks in the rocks and enlarges them thereby weakening the rock for further fracturing. Chemical additives are used for three reasons: to improve fluid flow thereby enhancing hydraulic fracturing; to kill bacteria whose effect might be the reduction of fracturing performance; and/or to thicken or thin the fracturing fluid to enhance its fracturing performance depending on the formation under consideration. The negative impacts of hydraulic fracturing fluids: chemicals making the additives The wide use of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas has resulted to wide concern about its impact on the environment especially in connection with the chemicals used to aid the fracturing process. It has been of great concern that hydraulic fracturing fluids used to fracture rocks contain chemicals that pose serious danger to the environment. An investigation done in the United States revealed that some companies are using extremely serious and toxic substances such as lead and benzene while others use common and harmless components such as citric acid and common salt ((U.S. House of Representatives, 2011). The widely used chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing include methanol, isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol, Propan-2-ol), crystalline silica, ethylene glocol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol), ethylene glycol (1,2-ethanediol), hydrotreated light petroleum distillates and sodium hydroxide (U.S. House of Representatives, 2011). Methanol is a major air pollutant and health hazard. Other compounds including benzene, xylene, ethylbenzene and toluene that were found in the hydraulic fracturing chemicals are also hazardous especially if they find their way into drinking water. This is a clear indication that the extraction of shale gas has numerous and serious negative environmental impacts. They pose great threat to human life especially if some of these compounds, such as lead and benzene, find their way into underground water reservoirs. For instance, lead is a heavy metal and if consumed can lead to cancer. Escape of methanol fumes into the air leads to air pollution, which poses danger to life if inhaled. This has a further negative impact on biodiversity by putting the entire biodiversity at great risk. Hydraulic fracturing uses a lot of water. The seriousness of this issue can best be realised in places where there is water scarcity such that the extraction of shale gas introduces competition for water between normal water use (domestic, agricultural and industrial). A further effect is realised when water sources, such as rivers and underground water, are exploited in the effort to obtain water for the hydraulic fracturing process. This has a serious negative impact on the environment especially on biodiversity depending on the exploited water resource. For example, exploitation of rivers negatively affects aquatic life. Negative environmental impact of drilling and fracturing rocks As aforementioned, shale gas extraction companies usually drill deep shafts into the ground to reach the shale in order to extract gas. Indeed, shale gas, as is the case with other nonconventional gas resources, is found several feed underground prompting deep drilling. Drilling and fracturing rocks have two major, negative environmental impacts. The soil and rocks produced from the drilling process must be dumped somewhere, which has a negative impact on the geography and the aesthetic aspect of nature. Additionally, holes left out after the extraction process is complete negatively affect the aesthetic aspect of nature. Further, drilling may lead to forceful eviction of biodiversity. For example, noise produced in the extraction process has a negative impact on the environment, such as scaring away wildlife. The disruption of underground structure resulting from drilling and rock fracturing may also lead to minor, induced seismic activities whose impacts can be magnified by the availability of natural seismic activities. Nevertheless, shale gas is considered a clean-burning gas implying that it has a reduced impact on global warming compared to other sources of energy, such as coal. Indeed, this is one of the reasons shale gas and natural gas in general has been considered as number one source of energy for various domestic and industrial applications (Spellman, 2013). This is a major positive environmental impact of shale gas. Conclusion The invention of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas was thought to be a major breakthrough in the provision of required energy for various uses. Indeed, shale gas is a clean-burning source of energy finding several domestic and industrial applications with various positive socio-economic impacts. However, there are various serious negative environmental impacts especially associated with the extraction process and in particular the use of hazardous chemicals and compounds. This means that it is possible to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with the extraction of shale gas by enacting laws that prohibit the use of various chemicals such as methanol and compounds such as lead and benzene. This way, the world shall enjoy the gift of nature, shale gas for a better tomorrow. References Bartis, J. T., LaTourrette, T., Dixon, L., Peterson, D. J. & Cecchine, G. (2005). Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues. RAND. Brendow, K. (2002). Global Oil Shale Issues and Perspectives. Synthesis of the Symposium on Oil Shale. Dyni, J. R. (2006). Geology and Resources of Some World Oil-Shale Deposits. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5294. U.S. Department of the Interior. Janardhan, V. & Fesmire, B. (2011). Energy Explained: Conventional Energy and Alternative. Plymouth, UK: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Spellman, F. R. (2013). Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing. CRC Press. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff. (2011). Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing. U.S. House of Representatives. USSGS. (2013). Energy Resources Program: Hydraulic Fracturing. Accessed October 28, 2013 from http://energy.usgs.gov/OilGas/UnconventionalOilGas/HydraulicFracturing.aspx World Energy Council. (2010). 2010 Survey of Energy Resources. World Energy Council. Read More

Shale Gas Shale gas is found within shales. Shales are sedimentary rocks that are fine graded and located several feet below the earth’s surface. When two shale layers sandwich a thinner layer, natural gas is trapped within the fine graded sedimentary rock. The trapped gas is the known as shale gas (Janardhan and Fesmire, 2011). Clay particles in the sandwiched layer sometimes absorb the trapped gas, but only a little of it is absorbed by the clay particles. There are estimated 3.0 trillion barrels of shale gas trapped in about 600 shale deposits in different parts of the world of which the majority are found in the United States (about 62% of the global shale gas resources), Australia (especially in Queensland), Russia, Morocco, Sweden, Germany and France (Brendow, 2002; Dyni, 2006 & World Energy Council, 2010).

Other small deposits are found in several other parts of the world. It is approximated that shale gas provides about 25% of the global gas requirement and that shale deposits will be able to last for about 400 years to come (Bartis et al., 2005). The extraction of shale gas The extraction of shale gas involves the cracking of rocks trapping the gas in order to release the gas trapped within the rocks. This is done through a process known as hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing fluids are used to help in the process of cracking rocks by inducing cracks in the rocks (Janardhan and Fesmire, 2011).

Fracturing fluids are a mixture of water and various additives or chemicals. These chemicals and the fracturing processed will be discussed further when looking at the environmental impacts of shale gas. Socio-economic impact of shale gas The socio-economic impacts of shale gas result from the extraction and use of shale gas. This requires an in-depth analysis and understanding of the importance of shale gas. Natural gas, including shale gas, provides about 22% of the world’s energy thereby contributing greatly to industrial and domestic processes, which have a major role in the growth of the economy (Spellman, 2013).

Shale gas is clean and has a clean burning nature, which has made it the first choice source of energy in the production of electricity. Shale gas is also widely used in various industries including chemicals, metals, petroleum refining, pulp and paper and food processing industries to provide energy for various operations in these industries. These industries employ millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, these industries where shale gas is widely used employ about 4 million people (Spellman, 2013).

These industries also provide millions of indirect employment opportunities to people all over the world. Therefore, the socio-economic impact of shale gas can be clearly seen if shale gas ceases to be used in these industries. It is evident that there would be a major shakeup in the industries causing massive unemployment with a consequent negative social impact. These industries also contribute greatly to the development of the economies of their respective countries. For instance, companies in these industries pay huge taxes to their respective governments.

Small business operating in these industries pay taxes while people employed by these industry pay income tax to their respective governments. It is therefore clearly evident that these industries are key pillars of the economy. Indeed, industrialisation is a major economic driver and its success means a lot to the economy. From the social perspective, employees from these industries powered by shale gas get financial power required to carry out various social activities including educating their children.

The role of shale gas in the shaping of the socio-economic dimension of the society is realised when one considers that natural gas (including shale gas) is preferred mainly because of the economics associated with the use of shale gas. In simpler terms, shale gas (natural gas in general) is a cost effective source of energy coupled by its clean-burning nature (Spellman, 2013).

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