The report of the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering shale gas committee was published on 29 June 2012. It is a government commissioned, independent review of the scientific and engineering evidence relating to the technical aspects of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing to inform government policymaking about shale gas extraction in the UK.

This report has analysed the environmental, health and safety risks associated with shale gas extraction. Neither risks associated with the subsequent use of shale gas nor climate risks have been analysed.

It concludes that "the health, safety and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (often termed ‘fracking’) as a means to extract shale gas can be managed effectively in the UK as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation."

More specifically, the report states:

• The risk of fractures propagating from shale formations to reach overlying aquifers is very low provided that shale gas extraction takes place at depths of many hundreds of metres or several kilometres.
• More likely causes of possible environmental contamination include faulty wells, and leaks and spills associated with surface operations.
• Monitoring of ground water and air should be carried out before, during and after shale gas operations to inform risk assessments.
• The risk of seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing can be reduced by traffic light monitoring systems that use real-time seismic monitoring so that operators can respond promptly.

These findings are in accordance with other recently published scientifc reports on the risks of shale gas exploration and production.

The report also provides 10 recommendations on how to effectively manage the analysed risks related to shale gas development in the UK.