17
Shale Gas Subcommittee Secretary of Energy Advisory Board
Shale Gas Subcommittee Secretary of Energy Advisory Board
US Shale Gas Plays
Source: U.S. EIA based on data from various published studies; Update: May 9, 2011
Source: EIA AEO 2012 early release, adapted by Essential Public Radio - http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-01-24/marcellus-shale-gas-potential-much-lower-previously-thought-9967
Key Benefits
• Domestic Energy Security
• Geopolitical and National Security
• Jobs and the Economy
• Environmental… if it’s done right
Key Environmental Risks • Well Integrity • Surface Operations • Water Use • Waste Management • Local & Regional Air Quality • Climate Impacts • Cumulative & Community Impacts
Setting the Bar for Safety and Responsibility. The subcommittee will work to identify, within 90 days, any immediate steps that can be taken to improve the safety and environmental performance of fracking and to develop, within six months, consensus recommended advice to the agencies on practices for shale gas extraction to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. Obama Administration Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future March 30, 2011
John Deutch Institute Professor at MIT (Chair)
Stephen Holditch Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M
Fred Krupp President, Environmental Defense Fund
Kathleen McGinty Former Secretary, Pennsylvania DEP
Susan Tierney Managing Principal, Analysis Group
Daniel Yergin Chairman, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates
Mark Zoback Professor of Geophysics, Stanford University
Subcommittee Members
Process 6 Public Meetings Public Field Hearing in PA Well-Site Visit in PA Testimony:
• Federal Regulators • State Regulators • Research Institutes • Natural Gas Producers • Trade Associations • Environmental Groups • Concerned Citizens
Key Themes Transparency “The common thread in all these recommendations is that measurement and disclosure are fundamental elements of good practice and policy for all parties. Data enables companies to identify changes that improve efficiency and environmental performance and to benchmark against the performance of different companies. Disclosure of data permits regulators to identify cost effective regulatory measures that better protect the environment and public safety, and disclosure gives the public a way to measure progress on reducing risks.”
Key Themes Regulation and Enforcement “…the Subcommittee emphasizes that effective and capable regulation is essential to protect the public interest. The challenges of protecting human health and the environment in light of the anticipated rapid expansion of shale gas production require the joint efforts of federal and state regulators. This means that resources dedicated to oversight of the industry must be sufficient to do the job and there is adequate regulatory staff at the state and federal level with the technical expertise to issue, inspect and enforce regulations.”
Key Themes Continuous Improvement of Best Practices “Strong regulations and robust enforcement resources and practices are a prerequisite to protecting health, safety and the environment, but the job is easier where companies are motivated and committed to adopting best engineering and environmental practice. …Achievement of best practice requires management commitment, adoption and dissemination of standards that are widely disseminated and periodically updated on the basis of field experience and measurements.”
Recommendations: Data, Transparency and Communication • National Database • Fracturing Fluid Chemical Disclosure • Baseline Water Quality Testing • Lifecycle Water Management and Reporting • Waste Characterization, Tracking and Reporting • Underground Methane Migration Study • Measurement and Disclosure of Air Emissions • Methane Air Emissions Study • Full Fuel-Cycle GHG Study • Funding for STRONGER and GWPC
Recommendations: Air Quality
• Rigorous standards for both new and existing sources for methane, air toxics, ozone-forming pollutants and other air contaminants resulting from gas exploration, production, transportation and distribution.
• Methane leakage and uncontrolled venting of methane
and other air contaminants should be eliminated except in cases where technically infeasible, where necessary for safety or where there is no alternative.
Recommendations: Water Supply and Water Quality
• Integrated water management systems utilizing lifecycle approach to managing, tracking and reporting water use. And cradle-to-grave measurement, characterization and tracking of waste.
• Modernization of rules and enforcement practices to
ensure protection of groundwater and surface water, especially regarding: 1) well construction and operation, 2) management of flowback and produced water, 3) prevention of blowouts and spills.
Recommendations: Cumulative Impacts on Communities, Land, Wildlife and Ecosystems
• Community notification, engagement and planning for mitigation of community impacts such as truck traffic, noise, lights, infrastructure development, etc.
• Science-based characterization and monitoring at landscape and watershed level to inform planning and protect habitats, species and ecosystems.
• Declare unique and/or sensitive areas off-limits.
Recommendations: Continuous Improvement of Best Practices
• Industry organization, with multi-stakeholder participation, dedicated to continuous improvement of best practice through development of standards, diffusion of these standards, and assessing compliance among its members.
