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HYDRAULIC FRACKING
Latest News:
Communications Energy Regulator (CER) POSITION - 7 JULY 2011
"The CER has recently obtained responsibility for regulating petroleum exploration and extraction activities with respect to safety
under the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2010.
Under the Act the CER has to create a Petroleum Safety Framework which will outline the system the CER will employ to regulate the safety
of these activities. This Framework is currently still under the development - we expect to publicly consult on the design of the Framework
in the coming month or so.
Once the design of Framework has been agreed, the CER will implement the Framework and subsequently actively regulate petroleum exploration
and extraction activities with respect to safety. It is expected that the full implementation of the Framework will take a number of years."
Economic benefits of shale-gas extraction unclear - 30 June 2011- The New York Times published hundreds of gas industry emails, many of which claim that the amount of gas being produced is exaggerated.
France Bans Fracking - 27 July 2011
New York to ban fracking in wildlife and watershed areas -27 July, 2011
The Irish Times - Saturday, June 11, 2011 - Gives estimate for Lough Allen Basin at €120 billion at present prices with a 75% chance of recovery.
Leitrim Observer June 2011 Article and interview with Tamboran's CEO Richard Moorman.
An Taisce Energy Unit Newsletter Summer 2011 Includes useful general information on fracking and its regulation process here. Examins the fracking issue from the national energy policy perspective and calls on the Minister to organise public consultation. Includes interview with Dr. Tony Bazley, editor of Earth Science and recently appointed Irish manage of Tamboran Resoruces.
World Wide Media
GASLAND Trailer 2010 for
GASLAND - (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize - Best US Documentary Feature - Sundance 2010. Screening at Cannes 2010.
Irish Documents
Briefing Paper for the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Oireachtas Library & Research Service - This paper examines some of the issues relating to the hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) extraction
system in the context of licences issued for the Northwest Carboniferous and Clare Basins. It then examines more general
issues relating to fracking from an international perspective.
[This is the most useful introduction to the Irish situation to date.]
Status Analysis Review of the Existing Legislative and Regulatory System for Petroleum Exploration and Extraction in Ireland March 31st 2011(10Mb) by The Commission for Energy Regulation.- This gives the overall picture of extraction regulation in Ireland but does not mention hydraulic fracturing.
Consultation Paper on the High Level Design of the Petroleum Safety Framework This sets out the proposed limits and methodology of the proposed safety regulation of the industry. Open for submission until 27 September 2011. See our comments.
Competitive Onshore Licensing Notice. -The 2010 terms and conditions of the offer of onshore exploration licences. Lists townlands under offer. Requires response by 10 June 2010.
Acerage Position Report March 2011. - This lists includes the three onshore licences granted.
Maps of Clare Basin granted areas. - includes areas in Counties Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork
Map of North West Carboniferous Basin granted areas. - includes areas in Lietrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Cavan, and Monaghan.
North of Ireland Guidance for licences - Tamboran. -
Includes comments from various agencies, including RSPB and NI Water.
International Research
New York State Preliminary Revised Draft Supplement Generic Environmental Impact Statement(30Mb)
Revised and enhanced from the original 2009 document. Due to be completed in 2011 and to be published for comment.
A detailed anlysis of the potential impacts. Extensive bibliography
Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural
gas from shale formations ['The Cornell Paper'].
Robert W. Howarth, Renee Santoro, Anthony Ingraffea
© Climatic change. Accepted: 13 March 2011 -
This paper compares the GHG footprint of shale gas compared to traditional gas exploration and finds that 30% more methane is emitted by fracking.
'Better regulation can help push industry towards methane emissions reductions'.
Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing.['The Duke Paper']
Stephen G. Osborna, Avner Vengoshb, Nathaniel R. Warnerb, and Robert B. Jackson
Center on Global Change, Nicholas School of the Environment, Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences,
Nicholas School of the Environment, and Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Approved April 14, 2011 -
In aquifers overlying the Marcellus and Utica shale formations of northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York,
this paper documents systematic evidence for methane contamination of drinking water associated with shalegas extraction.
This paper concludes that greater stewardship, data, and-possibly-regulation are needed to ensure the sustainable future
of shale-gas extraction and to improve public confidence in its use.
