Assessing environmental footprints induced by geo-energy exploitation: the shale gas case

This Special Issue describes the main outcomes from the SHEER (SHale gas Exploration and Exploitation induced Risks) project, a 3year EC Horizon 2020 funded investigation into environmental risk associated with shale oil and gas development within the European Union. A key feature of the programme of work has been the independent monitoring of a shale gas well at Wysin, Poland, through a network of seismic, groundwater and air quality measurement arrays and shallow borehole sensors both in advance of and subsequent to hydraulic fracturing operations. In conjunction with the environmental monitoring programme, a multi-hazard risk assessment technique has been applied to shale gas operations to identify and assess the likelihood of occurrence of incidents and their potential impacts on the surrounding environment. Given the limited development of shale oil and gas in Europe experience out-with the European Union, particularly in the USA and Canada, has been integrated into the project. A further element of the research has been the dissemination of results through academic publications, a large number of presentations to conferences and at SHEER events in Italy, Poland and the UK. This introductory paper provides a brief synopsis of the research and development that has been carried out, with a primary focus on the best practice recommendations, policy guidelines and key learning that have been developed during the course of the project. Policy guidelines include issues of relevance to regulators and government in providing effective regulatory oversight of shale gas operations within the European Union. Recommendations for best practice are primarily related to the monitoring and evaluation of environmental risk in the development of shale gas within the European Union.