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oa Environmental problems of shale gas production
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, XIV International Scientific Conference “Monitoring of Geological Processes and Ecological Condition of the Environment”, Nov 2020, Volume 2020, p.1 - 5
Abstract
This paper discusses the main environmental problems arised at prospection, exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons, in particular shale gas production in Ukraine. It is based both on reviewed world publications and authors’ data on sources of unconventional hydrocarbons in Ukraine. As a result, it was established that the main environmental threats that can arise at the prospection, exploration and exploitation of shale gas fields are associated with application of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) as well as drilling of a large number of exploration and operating boreholes. Among the main environmental impacts are ground water pollution by chemicals commonly used as components of hydraulic fluids and disruption of tectonic stability of rock massif at hydraulic break-down that can cause technogenic microearthquakes. However, the results of investigations carried out have shown that concerns of ecologists are exaggerated in many respects and shale gas can be produced without any environmental pollution, even if it will occur within densely populated areas of Ukraine. Certainly, all issues of prospection, exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons in Ukraine demand detailed studying by complex scientific researches that should cover all range of problems – geological, economic-geological, ecological and sociopolitical.