A government report recommending concrete steps in shale oil and gas R&D was published on March 21, 2012 together with a decree on the implementation of a commission for the evaluation of environmental risks related to hydraulic fracturing and alternative technologies.

Report

Following up the provisions of the French law on hydraulic fracturing (July 2011), a joint report of the CGIET/CGEDD¹ has been published on March 21, 2012 (report, pages 81-126). The report is in favour of research activities in hydraulic fracturing and shale oil and gas resource potential. It indicates that the French petroleum industry is ready to participate in research initiatives with academia on the relevant issues.

The report suggests the implementation of a program which starts out by collecting data in order to identify the potential resources and the possibilities of their safe and environmentally-friendly exploitation. The program should:

• initially focus on the oil shales of the Paris Basin.
• determine the conditions for environmentally acceptable hydraulic fracturing operations.
• specify estimates on shale gas and oil resources and reserves.
• establish partnerships between industry and research organizations in order to increase know-how in petroleum geology, hydrogeology, and risk management.
• be based on data collection from existing conventional exploration and production wells.

The program outline is followed by general recommendations:

• Formulate a new protocol within the RGIE (The General Regulation for Extractive Industries; ”règlement general des industries extractives”) related to drilling.
• Work on a European expert network.
• Actively participate in European negotiations/discussions regarding European energy policy.
• Establish a partnership between EU member countries to improve knowledge in Europe. France and Poland could initiate this partnership.

¹ "Conseil Général de l'Industrie, de l'Énergie et des Technologies"; General Council of Industry, Energy and Technology; "Conseil général de l’Environnement et du Développement durable", General Council of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Commission

The Decree n°2012-385 concerning the national commission on oil and gas exploration and exploitation techniques was published on  March 21, 2012.

This commission will be consulted on :

• the conditions for the implementation of hydraulic fracturing research projects;
• regulatory projects aimed at managing risks and protecting the environment during the experimentation of new techniques to operate on shale oil and gas;
• the annual report on shale oil and gas activities both at  the national and international levels.

The commission will comprise 5 state representatives, 3 territorial representatives, one MP, one senator. In addition,  3 NGOs representatives, 3 representatives of the industry, 3 representatives of the industry’s employees, and 3 personalities designated with regard to their scientific competencies will be appointed for 3 year terms by the Ministry of Environment. Meetings will be organized at least twice a year.