Shale gas production and environmental concerns

Abstract

The shale gas production in the USA has stirred environmental concerns in the face of the impacts arising in the course of the shale play development. Such enhanced interest of the public to this issue is connected with the opinions voiced by ecologists about the negative impacts of the shale gas production on the natural environment and human health. And the key negative factor is considered to be the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technologies. It is thought that the hydraulic fracturing affects the geological structures, underground and surface waters, atmospheric air, soil, and land condition. Moreover, the preparatory works for construction of the required infrastructure and also the very process of shale gas production – drilling of horizontal and vertical wells, use of water resources, and storage of toxic wastes are also detrimental in this respect. All these factors have led to wider public movement against the shale gas production.