Environmental Impact Of Shale Gas Development By US Companies&Constructing Countermeasures Framework

As an unconventional gas, Shale gas is very popular in different parts of theworld. To meet the future energy crisis, it is almost inevitable that shale gas will beexplored. The current share of shale gas being utilized for energy consumption isrising as well. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that by2035nearly half of U.S. natural gas will come from shale gas. According to the2010estimate, the U.S. now holds around1,800trillion cubic feet of natural gas; with onethird of it being shale gas.Shale gas will play a major role in meeting future energy demands. But on theother hand, the increasing negative impact of exploring shale gas on the environmentand human health is also alarming. Due to its low productivity and highly scatterednature, shale gas development is much more complicated than conventional gasdevelopment.Hydraulic Fracturing or fracking has helped create the shale boom in the US.Due to hydraulic fracturing, water resources are under great threat. Hydraulicfracturing is also responsible for air pollution. Methane and other volatile organiccompounds (VOC’s) from ambient air emissions are also contaminating the air quality.There are more than14000oil-gas companies operating in the US and hundreds ofthem are engaged in unconventional natural gas development. The extraction,processing, and transportation of shale gas has a direct impact on the environmentfrom different aspects.The objective of this study is to learn how to analyze or evaluate the impact ofshale gas development on the environment and how to reduce this environmentalimpact. This study is conducted through different case studies; where US oil-gascompanies contaminating surface water, ground water resources, air quality, humanhealth, ecology etc. The degree of the environmental impact is understandable throughstudying the cases of Chesapeake Energy, Exxon Mobil, Halliburton&other smallcompanies. These companies are fined millions of dollar by Energy protectionAgency (EPA)&other regulators on several times.Through different case studies, this thesis has found “fracking” as the mainreason for water pollution. Assessing the previous works on air emission studies hasshown that methane, benzene, toluene&other HAPs are present in adjacent gas basins.HAPs like benzene are very dangerous for human health and other HAPs are also responsible for many chronic diseases like thrombocytopenia, bone marrow damage,pancytopenia, leucopenia etc.This study also construct a counter measures policy framework both fromadministrative&technical aspects; also suggesting for regulators to implement thesestandards or regulations to reduce environmental impact. Different standards ofsurface water, ground water, air quality, informing mass people, research&development standards have been set to minimize the potential risks of shale gasdevelopment. US companies are suggested to comply with these standards®ulations.Technological advancement, new innovations, in depth monitoring byregulators, setting new technical standards and laws, awareness&recommendationsof state&federal government, technically&academically sound professionals, civilsociety and finally the best management practices of operators can mitigateenvironmental risks. Policies with a holistic approach need to be implemented toensure a sustainable industry that maintains economic growth while allowing for agreen healthy environment for human beings.