The Scotsman: Comment - Tighter Regulations Are Key with Fracking

DLA Piper has recently completed its analysis of 252 reports by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in the US which show a marked improvement in the environmental performance of shale oil and gas wells following the imposition of new strict state regulation. The study clearly shows the incidence of water supply contamination from shale gas development fell to 0.17 per cent in 2013 – a 92 per cent improvement on preceding years.

This improvement followed a tightening of the state’s Oil and Gas Act 2012 that revised regulations governing oil and gas well casing and cementing. The regulatory changes resulted in many of the recognised best practices for unconventional shale gas development becoming legal requirements in Pennsylvania, including material specification and performance testing to ensure proper casing and cementing of all shale oil and gas wells.

Read the full article HERE.