Challenge 1: Assessing and Monitoring the UK Shale Gas Landscape (UKSGL)
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: Groundwater
Abstract
Gas (and oil) can be extracted from shale using a process known as hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking'. This form of hydrocarbon extraction has yet to be fully deployed in the UK. The 'shale gas landscape' (SGL) in the UK is a complex set of social and technical factors that will change over the coming years as permission is sought for wells to be drilled and hydraulically fractured. When drilling and fracking takes place, we will learn whether gas recovery is economically viable and can be carried out in a socially acceptable way. Furthermore, our knowledge of the potential environmental impacts associated with the fracking process will be enhanced.
The key aim of this project, 'Assessing and Monitoring the UK Shale Gas Landscape' (UKSGL) is to create a cross-cutting consortium, which will work closely with researchers from the other challenges to produce a series of published review papers summarising up to date knowledge of this evolving complex landscape. In addition, the project will develop a conceptual model, incorporating comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the SGL, enabling predictions about the future of the UKSGL and allowing the testing of specific scenarios as directed by Programme Advisory Board members. Key to the success of this project will be delivering excellence with impact - ensuring that the project maximises benefit through open and transparent engagement with key stakeholders to communicate social, environmental and geo science data and findings. The project will harness a range of information sharing tools and technologies to actively engage with stakeholders, including a UKSGL website; publication of open-access research papers; organisation of an annual conference, overseen by an experienced Knowledge Broker.
The key aim of this project, 'Assessing and Monitoring the UK Shale Gas Landscape' (UKSGL) is to create a cross-cutting consortium, which will work closely with researchers from the other challenges to produce a series of published review papers summarising up to date knowledge of this evolving complex landscape. In addition, the project will develop a conceptual model, incorporating comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the SGL, enabling predictions about the future of the UKSGL and allowing the testing of specific scenarios as directed by Programme Advisory Board members. Key to the success of this project will be delivering excellence with impact - ensuring that the project maximises benefit through open and transparent engagement with key stakeholders to communicate social, environmental and geo science data and findings. The project will harness a range of information sharing tools and technologies to actively engage with stakeholders, including a UKSGL website; publication of open-access research papers; organisation of an annual conference, overseen by an experienced Knowledge Broker.
Planned Impact
We have identified the following groups of beneficiaries: policy makers; regulators; operators; environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); and professional organisations. Our project's governance structure has been established to allow a representative from the key beneficiaries, along with the Management Team, to provide direction through involvement on the Programme Advisory Board (PAB). The identified beneficiaries and the value and impact they will gain is detailed below.
1. Policy makers and regulators at a national level. We have secured representation from the Shale Gas team at BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) on the PAB. Additionally, there will be representation on the PAB of key regulation organisations, namely, the Environment Agency and Public Health England. We aim to collaborate with other regulation organisations, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the Mineral Planning Authority through their connections with the Challenge 2-5 research teams.
2. Operators. The deliverables of this project will influence and change existing good practice guidance and Best Available Techniques (BAT) for shale gas extraction. We will work with the UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) representative body to ensure an open dialogue with all onshore operators. We will endeavour to collaborate directly with operators, including Third Energy and Ineos through our wider stakeholder engagement activities.
3. Environmental NGOs. There is significant concern about the potential environmental impacts associated with fracking amongst several conservation charities. This project will engage with this group of stakeholders so that they can benefit from and contribute to our outputs and deliverables. We have secured the representation of XXX on our PAB.
4. Professional organisations, such as chartered institutes and society bodies will also benefit from data and information to update their membership and for inclusion in briefing notes and position statements.
5. Additional stakeholders, who we will engage with include local government (e.g. planning officers; planning committee) and local communities and members of the public from both sides of the shale gas debate. We will provide up to date, impartial and easily accessible information through our project webpage. As part of our Pathways to Impact, we have planned a range of knowledge exchange activities to facilitate two-way discussions between the project team and the stakeholders. One example is the formation of a Stakeholder Group (SG) to engage with a broader cross section of activists, journalists and politicians. The composition of the SG and Terms of Reference will be agreed by the PAB at their inaugural meeting.
We will implement a range of techniques, methods and activities as part of the UKSGL project to engage with key stakeholders to ensure maximum benefit and impact. Information dissemination and knowledge exchange activities will include:
- development of a UKSGL website, which will be used to publish review papers, video summaries and updates from the other challenges;
- provision of open-access publications;
- use of social media platforms for raising awareness of important research results;
- development of an open-access UKSGL model, which can be updated with peer-reviewed data and information during the project;
- organisation of an annual conference to aid collaboration with all other challenges; and
- stakeholder workshops will take place on an annual basis to engage with a broader cross section of activists, journalists and politicians.
1. Policy makers and regulators at a national level. We have secured representation from the Shale Gas team at BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) on the PAB. Additionally, there will be representation on the PAB of key regulation organisations, namely, the Environment Agency and Public Health England. We aim to collaborate with other regulation organisations, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the Mineral Planning Authority through their connections with the Challenge 2-5 research teams.
2. Operators. The deliverables of this project will influence and change existing good practice guidance and Best Available Techniques (BAT) for shale gas extraction. We will work with the UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) representative body to ensure an open dialogue with all onshore operators. We will endeavour to collaborate directly with operators, including Third Energy and Ineos through our wider stakeholder engagement activities.
3. Environmental NGOs. There is significant concern about the potential environmental impacts associated with fracking amongst several conservation charities. This project will engage with this group of stakeholders so that they can benefit from and contribute to our outputs and deliverables. We have secured the representation of XXX on our PAB.
4. Professional organisations, such as chartered institutes and society bodies will also benefit from data and information to update their membership and for inclusion in briefing notes and position statements.
5. Additional stakeholders, who we will engage with include local government (e.g. planning officers; planning committee) and local communities and members of the public from both sides of the shale gas debate. We will provide up to date, impartial and easily accessible information through our project webpage. As part of our Pathways to Impact, we have planned a range of knowledge exchange activities to facilitate two-way discussions between the project team and the stakeholders. One example is the formation of a Stakeholder Group (SG) to engage with a broader cross section of activists, journalists and politicians. The composition of the SG and Terms of Reference will be agreed by the PAB at their inaugural meeting.
We will implement a range of techniques, methods and activities as part of the UKSGL project to engage with key stakeholders to ensure maximum benefit and impact. Information dissemination and knowledge exchange activities will include:
- development of a UKSGL website, which will be used to publish review papers, video summaries and updates from the other challenges;
- provision of open-access publications;
- use of social media platforms for raising awareness of important research results;
- development of an open-access UKSGL model, which can be updated with peer-reviewed data and information during the project;
- organisation of an annual conference to aid collaboration with all other challenges; and
- stakeholder workshops will take place on an annual basis to engage with a broader cross section of activists, journalists and politicians.
Description | Stakeholder engagement through interviews and workshop have identified gaps in geothermal energy regulations and transferable learning fom teh shale gas industry. Findings are summarised in a policy paper. |
Exploitation Route | The outcome will be included in a White paper on geothermal energy for the Department for Energy Secuiry and Net Zero and also dessimated to potential regulators through the final output - which is a policy paper. |
Sectors | Energy |
Description | The findings were included in a White paper on geothermla energy prepared for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. |
First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Baseline groundwater quality studies |
Organisation | Environment Agency |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Initiation of programme of assessment of groundwater quality in areas of potential hydrocarbon development to establish baseline conditions and develop a methodology for application in other areas. The contribution has involved the application of hydrogeological and geochemical expertise in project design, implementation of fieldwork by specialist monitoring staff and analysis of samples by BGS and NIGL laboratories. |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise on policy implications and regulatory needs for research and outcomes |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Equipt4Risk project |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental science |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental science |
Impact | Various papers and joint research activities with outputs listed on the Equipt4Risk project entry |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Risk perceptions and responses to subsurface interventions in the UK |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental and social science research |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental and social science research |
Impact | Various papers and joint research activities with outputs listed on the Risk Perceptions project entry |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Risk perceptions and responses to subsurface interventions in the UK |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental and social science research |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint projects and initiatives and inter-disciplinary environmental and social science research |
Impact | Various papers and joint research activities with outputs listed on the Risk Perceptions project entry |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | 2 x Integration events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Two Programme integration events - one on induced seismicity and the second on the role of shale gas in achieving net zero |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
Description | Annual Science Meeting 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | NERC/ESRC UH Programme annual meeting with international stakeholder advisory board |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Contribution to Erasmus+ CPD series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Richard Davies, Mike Bradshaw and Rob Ward contributed to the delivery of a Continuing Professional Development series funded by Erasmus+. The first event focused on regulation and policy of shale gas extraction in the UK and the second on environmental and health impacts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | NERC UH Programme Integration Event 3 - UKUH Research: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Workshop event involving the NERC/ESRC Unconventional Hydrocarbon programme researchers and stakeholders to review the evolving energy landscape in the UK and direction of travel towards Net Zero following the introduction of a moratorium on shale gas. It was also an opportunity to announce the results of the programme's Open Calla nd align the new researchers with the existing project. Two new projects led by ECR's are aligned with this project - Equipt4Risk - and close ties will be established. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://www.ukuh.org/events/integrationevent3-january2021/ |
Description | Participation in UKUH insight Discussion: Linking our understanding of induced seismicity to other Net Zero technologies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | scientific debate about topical issues and learning from shale gas and other energy technologies for geothermal energy induced seismicity and perception |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://www.ukuh.org/events/insightdiscussions/ |
Description | Science Media Centre Press Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press briefing organised by the Science Media Centre (SMC) to brief national media outlets on the environmental risks associated with shale gas operations (including fracking) and the impacts observed as a result of operations in Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Rob Ward (PI) and Brian Baptie (Co-I) both gave briefings and outlined the objectives of the NERC/ESRC funded project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | UKUH Research Seminar Series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Seminar series on topics aligned with the research programme and projects with the emphasis on new development and research findings presented by ECRs |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |