For Maximum Environmental Benefit
The Shale Gas (and Shale Oil) industries have reached a mature stage of development in North America, and many of the potential pitfalls can be observed at existing well sites. A debate is raging in new, undeveloped shale gas regions as to what degree these pitfalls will impact local stakeholders. The local and global impacts might reduce the overall benefit of increased natural gas in our energy mix that displaces more polluting and carbon intensive fuels. Among the issues of concern that are most specific for shale gas are:
• Protection of water resources throughout the life cycle of the wells
• Induced seismicity during the fracturing process
• Fugitive emissions of natural gas that increase the overall greenhouse gas emissions of shale gas.
The framework will be risk assessment and management, and how independent verification can support the credibility of the operator. The practical solutions to effective risk management are in summary:
• Collection of a sufficiently detailed and comprehensive baseline site dataset
• Use of best practices in constructing the well, including the fracturing and subsequent flow-back period
• Fit-for-purpose real-time monitoring systems coupled with real-time decision making
• Benefiting of best practice in water management throughout the life cycle of the project
• Proper communication with stakeholders such that the most effective operators with the best risk management practices are enabled and supported.
Presented by
Todd Flach,
Principal Consultant
Todd started his career as a Research Assistant at the Dept. of Petroleum Eng. at U. of Texas (Austin,’85-‘87) instimulation and hydraulic fracturing. He has worked as a reservoir engineer (13 yrs), integrated risk management (6 yrs), and risk management of CCS projects (9 yrs). Todd was a contributor to the DNV Recommended Practice for Shale Gas. He has a BSc/MSc in Petroleum Eng. from UT Austin.
Richard Green,
Senior Principal Consultant
Currently leading DNV’s shale gas practice in North America. Focused on delivering solutions to mitigate operational, regulatory, community, EHS, logistics, permitting, and other shale gas risks. Contributor to the DNV Recommended Practice for Shale Gas and is active in technology options for produced/flow back water from shale gas. BSc/MSc in Environmental Sciences from U. of Wisconsin.
