The inevitable impact of shale gas and oil extraction is manifested in the use of large areas of land for drilling sites, parking and maneuvering areas for trucks, equipment, gas processing and transportation facilities, as well as access roads. The main possible negative impacts are emissions of pollutants into the air, contamination of groundwater by uncontrolled gas and liquid flows caused by their emissions or spills, leakage of drilling fluids and uncontrolled discharge of waste water. Production fluids contain hazardous substances, and waste water, in addition, contains heavy metals and radioactive materials from the fields.
The US experience shows that there are many accidents that cause damage to the environment and human health. Documented violations of legal requirements range from 1-2% of all facilities that have received drilling permits. A large number of such accidents occur due to improper handling of equipment and leaking equipment. Moreover, groundwater contamination with methane is recorded in the vicinity of gas wells, which in extreme cases leads to explosions of residential buildings, as well as potassium chloride contamination, which leads to salinization of drinking water. The degree of impact increases as shale gas deposits are developed at high density, with up to 6 wells per square kilometer.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The process of fugitive methane leakage from hydraulic fracturing can have a huge impact on the greenhouse gas balance. Existing estimates range from 18 to 23 g CO2 equivalent per megajoule from the exploration and production of unconventional natural gases. Methane emissions into aquifers have not yet been estimated. However, emissions at individual facilities can vary tenfold depending on well productivity.
Depending on some factors, greenhouse gas emissions from shale gas relative to its energy reserves are as low as those from natural gas transported over long distances or as high as those from coal, which goes through a full life cycle from extraction to combustion.
The EU regulatory framework
The task of mining law is to create a common regulatory framework for mining activities. The aim is to promote the prosperity of the manufacturing sector, secure energy supplies and ensure adequate protection of health, safety and the environment. At the EU level, there is no comprehensive regulatory framework for extractive industries.
However, there are 4 specially developed directives that regulate the extractive industry. In addition, there are many rules and directives that do not specialize in the regulation of extractive relations, but affect the extractive industry. Focusing on regulations related to the environment and human health, the 36 most relevant directives from the following areas of law were identified: water law, environmental protection, safe working conditions, radiation protection, waste law, chemical law and accident law.
