Shale-gas drilling unlikely to affect energy security, say MPs

A report by the Energy Select Committee of MPs found no evidence that the hydraulic fracturing process involved in shale-gas extraction — known as ‘fracking’ —  poses a direct risk to underground water aquifers, provided the drilling well is constructed properly.

‘There appears to be nothing inherently dangerous about the process of fracking itself and, as long as the integrity of the well is maintained, shale-gas extraction should be safe,’ said committee chair Tim Yeo MP, adding: ’Regulatory agencies must of course be vigilant and monitor drilling closely to ensure that air and water quality is not being affected.’

The British Geological Survey estimates that the UK’s onshore shale-gas resources could be as large as 150 billion cubic metres — equivalent to roughly 1.5 years of total UK gas consumption and worth approximately £28bn at current prices.

‘Onshore shale-gas reserves in the UK could be quite considerable and will certainly help us increase our energy security — although not, unfortunately, very dramatically,’ Yeo said.