The Irish Environmental Protection Agency EPA has published a report from a preliminary study on current knowledge about the environmental considerations and impacts of shale gas exploration and extraction, and in particular the use of hydraulic fracturing technology. The study: Hydraulic Fracturing or ‘Fracking’: A Short Summary of Current Knowledge and Potential Environmental Impacts was conducted by the University of Aberdeen.

The report provides an introduction to the environmental aspects of fracking including a review of regulatory approaches used in other countries and areas for further investigation and research.

Some of the main findings on potential environmental impacts:

• Well integrity is vital for minimising potential impacts, particularly with regard to groundwater contamination.
• Knowledge of local geology is important in order to assess the potential for impacts on groundwater quality and tremors/earthquakes.
• There is uncertainty about the “carbon footprint” of natural gas from shale.

The report suggests topics for further research to determine Best Practice, such as the feasibility of additive-free fracking fluids, flowback fluid treatment, the disposal and minimisation of methane losses to air and an increased understanding of shale geometry in complex formations.

The report also presents a list of requirements to be considered in establishing and achieving Best Practice. These include adequate monitoring and assessment of shale gas extraction installations and the receiving environment. It is emphazised that national or local environmental agencies charged with monitoring the potential impacts of fracking in the exploration and production of shale gas should be fully funded and equipped to carry out the necessary tasks.