Frack attack!

Simon Oakes

Presentation title Frack attack!

Shale gas and fracking

KS5 Specifications and qualifications

AQA: ‘types of energy’ and‘patterns of energy supply’

Edexcel: ‘increased energy insecurity’

OCR: ‘the global energy mix’

WJEC: ‘the sustainability of energy supplies’

IB diploma: ‘changing patterns of energy consumption’

Presentation title Frack attack!

An overview

• Natural gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves the

high-pressure penetration of fluid into shale-rock sites, known as plays.

• Fracking produces shale gas, an unconventional fossil fuel.

• Technological advances helped fracking become cost-effective in the mid-1990s.

• The energy mix of the USA has been transformed by shale gas.

• Some predictions show the USA as the world’s biggest hydrocarbon producer by

2020, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia.

• The UK government wants to promote shale-gas production, because North Sea

gas production is in terminal decline.

• In France, fracking has been banned due to health concerns.

Presentation title Frack attack!

How is it done?• At drilling sites, the water, sand

and chemical mix is injected

vertically and horizontally to

depths of 3 km.

• The process triggers tiny

explosions that disintegrate

the hard shale to release

methane gas trapped inside.

The gas flows out to the head of

the well.

• Enormous amounts of waste

water are generated by the

process.

Presentation title Frack attack!

Three big fracking issues

Safety

•The local environment can

be damaged by fracking.

•Nasty effects include

methane leaks and filthy flow-

back water.

•Millions of gallons of used

fracking fluid must be

disposed of.

•Researchers found that some

of the 260 fracking chemicals

used in the USA are known

carcinogens.

Ethics

•Shale gas is a fossil fuel

and will not help us with

climate change

mitigation.

•The low cost of shale

gas encourages

governments to abandon

renewable energy

solutions.

•Is this the right course

for sustainable

development?

Security

•With peak oil fast

approaching, shale gas could

provide energy security in the

short and medium term.

•The Fukushima explosion left

people feeling scared of

nuclear power.

•Energy pathways to Middle

Eastern oil fields could lose

their strategic importance,

reducing geopolitical tensions.

Presentation title Frack attack!

The view from the UK

• The British Geological Survey estimates the

UK has 1,300–1,700 trillion cubic feet of

shale gas.

• Exploration is led by Cuadrilla and IGas. Both

companies are interested in northwest

England, where the Bowland Shale holds

400–500 tn cu ft.

• Large reserves lie below southeast England’s

Weald basin too. It’s a highly-populated area

of high property prices. Local opposition to

exploratory drilling can be expected. Protests

have already erupted in Balcombe.

Presentation title Frack attack!

Who else has shale gas?

Presentation title Frack attack!

The final verdict?

• Supporters of fracking argue that we face a greater threat from coal-burning

power stations — a new one comes online every week in either China or India.

• Increased use of shale gas, rather than coal, will at least reduce the

carbon intensity of global GDP growth.

• Shale gas could help ease the transition to a low-carbon economy, serving as a

bridge fuel until renewable energy sources begin to deliver.

• journalist Michael Brooks argues that there are two important decisions to

make. First, do we trust the regulators to do a good job in minimising the

environmental impact of fracking? Second, do we want to be part of the

generation that decided not even to bother trying to meet reductions in carbon

emissions?

Presentation title Frack attack!

‘Increased use of shale gas is the best way to meet

global energy security concerns.’ Discuss.

Essay writing adviceWhat is meant by ‘increased use of shale gas’? Will it be a major or minor part of the energy mix? Does the statement suggest substituting coal with shale gas, or using shale gas instead of renewables or nuclear? A good answer will question the scale of increased use suggested by the statement.

This is the key concept the essay is based around. So what does it mean? And what timescale do these ‘concerns’ relate to? The next decade, or the next century? This is something you should be thinking about early on in the planning stage.

The ‘discuss’ command requires a balanced answer, putting forward views in support of and against the statement. At A2, you should aim for a conclusion that agrees or disagrees with the statement (rather than hedging your bets and ending with‘maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, as there are costs and benefits’).

Best in whose view? Citizens? Governments? Businesses? Environmentalists who are concerned with climate change? From what other different perspectives can we look at the question? A top-band response will provide a clear account of the different stakeholders and their views.