Practical Measures for Reducing the Risk of Environmental Contamination in Shale Energy Production

Details

• Personal Author:
  McCawley M ; Quaranta JD ; Ziemkiewicz P
• Description:
  Gas recovery from shale formations has been made possible by advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology. Rapid adoption of these methods has created a surge in natural gas production in the United States and increased public concern about its environmental and human health effects. We surveyed the environmental literature relevant to shale gas development and studied over fifteen well sites and impoundments in West Virginia to evaluate pollution caused by air emissions, light and noise during drilling. Our study also characterized liquid and solid waste streams generated by drilling and hydraulic fracturing and evaluated the integrity of impoundments used to store fluids produced by hydraulic fracturing. While most shale gas wells are completed with little or no environmental contamination, we found that many of the problems associated with shale gas development resulted from inattention to accepted engineering practices such as impoundment construction, improper liner installation and a lack of institutional controls. Recommendations are provided based on the literature and our field studies. They will address not all but a great many of the deficiencies that result in environmental release of contaminants from shale gas development. We also identified areas where new technologies are needed to fully address contaminant releases to air and water. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Environmental Pollution Hydrocarbons Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Drilling Emission Sources Environmental Contamination Environmental Health Environmental Impacts Fracking Gases Health Effects Hydraulic Fracturing Light Source Natural Gas Noise Exposure Noise Levels Organic Compounds Waste Disposal Systems

  More +
• ISSN:
  2050-7887
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049611
• Citation:
  Environ Sci Process Impacts 2014 Jul; 16(7):1692-1699
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  West Virginia University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e0a4c6102a217523051829300247b4890f59bf031c2a4c1c0984f405d2837f368923440a576d4c7ab7ae6e61bb8253db0ac58f073446f74e7510d0eaf98fe591
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210310/cdc_210310_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 683.67 KB ]