Shale Gas Versus Traditional Gas

Standard gas tanks are developed when gas moves toward the Earth’s surface from an organic-rich source development into highly permeable shell rock, where it is trapped by an overlying layer of impenetrable rock. On the other hand, shale gas resources form within the organic-rich shale source rock. The low permeability of the shale significantly hinders the gas from moving to more rocks in the reservoir. Without horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, shale gas production would not be economically possible since the natural gas would not pass from the formation at high sufficient rates to validate the expense of drilling.

Gas: A Cleaner Burning Fuel than any other

Gas is cleaner-burning than coal or oil. The combustion of natural gas produces lower levels of key pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, than does the burning of coal or oil. When utilized in efficient combined-cycle power plants, gas combustion can give off less than half Carbon Dioxide (O2) as coal combustion, per unit of energy released.

Environmental Issues of extracting Shale

Nevertheless, some possible environmental problems are likewise related to the production of shale gas. Shale gas drilling has strong water supply problems. The drilling and fracturing of wells need large quantities of water. In some locations of the country, substantial use of water for shale gas production may affect the schedule of water for other uses and can affect aquatic habitats.

Drilling and fracturing likewise produce large amounts of wastewater, which may consist of liquefied chemicals and other pollutants that need treatment before disposal or reuse. Because of the quantities of water utilized, and the intricacies inherent in dealing with some of the wastewater treatment, the chemicals used, and disposal is an essential and challenging problem.

If mismanaged, the hydraulic fracturing fluid can be launched by spills, leaks, or numerous other direct exposure pathways. Making use of possibly hazardous chemicals in the fracturing fluid implies that any release of this solution or liquid can result in the contamination of surrounding areas, consisting of sources of drinking water, and can negatively impact natural environments. It is vitally important to the environment to carefully moniter and manage any producers using this technology to bring gas to the surface.

Additional Information: Do you know that Maryland is the first state with gas resources to forbid fracking in March 2017. New York City banned drilling in 2012 and Vermont even without known frackable gas reserves.