Shale gas
A parliamentary inquiry into shale gas in the UK is currently underway. Drilling to explore for the ‘unconventional’ fossil fuel has already begun, but campaigners have raised concerns that the process of extracting the gas could contaminate local water. The energy firm that has begun exploring for the gas believes it will provide multiple economic benefits, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Below are stories covering the issue - including comments from the energy firms who believe it will provide benefits to the UK, and from those concerned about safety.
Selected shale news
Shell and Chevron likely to win Ukraine shale gas contract
Ukraine is likely to award tenders to Shell and Chevron for potentially large shale gas fields, a government source has said.
Environment Agency chief backs fracking and nuclear power
The UK Environment Agency chairman has voiced support for shale gas extraction and plans to expand nuclear power generation.
U.S. shale causes rise in waste gas pollution
The shale energy boom in the U.S. is fuelling a rise in the burning of waste gas, a World Bank source has said.
Calls for 600m shale gas fracking limit
Shale gas "fracking" should only take place at least 600 metres down from aquifers used for water supplies, researchers said.
Shale gas fracking gets approval from government
The exploration of shale gas has been backed by the government nearly a year after the drilling method triggered two earthquakes.
Geologists say UK has vast offshore shale gas reserves
The UK may have enough offshore shale gas reserves to be amongst the top ranks of global producers, energy experts have said.
IGas doubles shale gas estimates
British shale gas company IGas has more than doubled its estimate of gas in place at its site in north-west England.
Shale gas water pollution ‘unlikely’
Fracking for shale gas is ‘extremely unlikely’ to pollute ground water supplies, UK geologists say.
Shale gas find in China difficult to develop - PetroChina
A shale gas discovery in China's Sichuan province will be difficult to convert to commercial production, PetroChina has said.
Concerns raised over exploiting shale gas reserves
Targets to cut carbon emissions and investment in renewable energy could be put at risk by exploiting shale gas reserves
Fracking ‘highly probable’ cause of tremors
A ‘fracking’ technique to extract gas from the ground was the ‘highly probable’ cause of earth tremors on the UK’s Lancashire Fylde coast.
Fracking could harm Bath hot springs, council warns
The controversial "fracking" process of extracting shale gas could pose a threat to Bath's famous hot springs, the council warns.
Cuadrilla finds shale gas reserves in UK
A gas exploration company has said it can drill hundreds of wells in Lancashire to tap into vast shale gas resources underground.
Shale gas contributes to global warming
Shale gas has a greater greenhouse gas footprint than fossil fuels over a 20-year period, according to new research.
Commons select committee questions Energy Minister on shale gas
The issue of land ownership in terms of drilling for shale gas in the UK will be ‘critical’, the Energy Minister says.
Shale gas to provide economic and environmental benefits to the UK
The extraction of shale gas in the UK could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs for consumers, and provide multiple economic benefits, an energy firm says.
Halt shale gas extraction until safety known, says Labour
Labour has called for a temporary halt to drilling for shale gas until assessments have been done to make sure the process for extracting it is safe.
Call to ban 'shale' gas'
Campaigners are calling for a ban on the extraction of shale gas in the UK until potential environmental and human health risks have been properly assessed.
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