Gulf Times: British Geological Survey Will Separate Fact From Fiction in UK’s Shale Gas Enterprise

The UK government’s plan to fast-track shale gas planning applications through a new, dedicated planning process has brought into sharp relief the need for reliable data to inform the decision-making processes with regard to the granting or refusing of permits.

With 37 onshore blocks from the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round soon to be offered to companies, and a second group of 132 further blocks to be announced later this year, there is clearly a keen government and industry interest in assessing the potential of this unconventional hydrocarbon. 

Inevitably, as with any new industry, there are concerns about the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing.

Against this back drop, it is reassuring to know that an impartial body with a dedication to pure science is creating a baseline of environmental information to ensure that all interested parties, including the general public, can have access to hard facts when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of ‘fracking’.

Gulf Times spoke to Professor Robert Ward, director of Science of the British Geological Survey (BGS), to learn more about the important work being done in environmental baseline monitoring. 

Read the full article HERE.