UK fracking industry would need strict controls to minimise spill risk

UK fracking industry would need strict controls to minimise spill risk. February 2018) Strict controls would be "a necessity" to minimise the risk of spills and leaks from any future UK shale gas industry, according to new research. The recommendation comes from scientists who have investigated the possible risk of spills from well sites and tankers used to transport chemicals and contaminated fluids to and from fracking sites. The research, by the ReFINE (Researching Fracking in Europe) consortium, jointly led by Durham and Newcastle universities, estimated the potential for spills from any future UK shale gas industry by examining data related to the UK's milk and fuel transportation industries and from the oil and gas industry in parts of the USA. Shale gas Tens to hundreds of well sites might be needed in the UK, with hundreds to thousands of wells being drilled over several years to extract shale gas. Scientists looked at the number of incidents - such as road traffic accidents - and spills involving tankers in the UK's fuel and milk industries as a comparator for any future UK shale gas industry. A shale gas well site containing 10 wells could expect to be visited by an estimated 2,856 tankers, each with a potential capacity of 30,000 litres, over the first two years of drilling, the researchers said.