UK holds larger deposits of shale gas than predicted, according to government report

The UK government has released a new report which reveals that shale gas resources in the country may be far greater than previously anticipated.

British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) jointly drafted the report, which estimates shale gas resources in Bowland Basin in the Midlands and the north of England. The basin covers an area from Wrexham and Blackpool in the west to Nottingham and Scarborough in the east of the country.

The lower limit of the range is expected to hold approximately 822 trillion cubic feet of shale gas according to the report. The upper limit is anticipated to hold around 2,281 trillion cubic feet and the central estimate for the resource is 1,329 trillion cubic feet.

The report said that the proportion of gas extracted in the area depends on the economic, geological and social factors of each potential operation. The government supports a package of community benefits in areas where shale gas is commercially extracted, including £100,000 for communities that are located near to the exploratory well and 1% of revenues from every production site.

UK Energy Minister Michael Fallon said that shale gas, which is a new potential energy resource, will play a crucial role in the country’s energy mix.

"With the package announced today on planning, environmental regulations, and community benefits, it is clear that we want to encourage a shale industry that is safe and that doesn’t damage the environment," he said.

"This will provide a welcome boost for communities who will host shale exploration and production as well as offering strong assurances that operators will engage with them and work to the highest health, safety and environmental standards."

Shale gas is extracted through fracking, a controversial technique in which a large amount of water is mixed with sand and chemicals and injected at high pressure into faults to release petroleum and natural gas such as shale gas, tight gas, and coal seam gas.

---

Image: Map showing shale gas resource in Bowland Basin in Central Britain. Photo: Courtesy of British Geological Survey.