Fracking and Water: Is There Enough to Go Around?

Transcription

1 Fracking and Water: Is There Enough to Go Around? Author: Gregory Smith Designation: Research Assistant at Agri SA, Department: Natural Resources

2 Agri SA is busy conducting a desktop study to inform the farming community of the potential risks and benefits associated with shale gas extraction, with a specific focus on the Karoo. This instalment looks specifically at fracking and its potential risks regarding water resources 2

3 Index INTRODUCTION P4 CONCERNS REGARDING WATER AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING P6 GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE P7 CONCLUSION P8 REFERENCE LIST P8 APPENDIX P9 3

4 NATUURLIKE Fracking in SA The concern surrounding shale gas development is very real, understandable and cannot be ignored. Water is a source of livelihood for the farming community and it is important to have a full understanding of possible future conflicts of interest and the recommendations made to minimize any potential risks. 4

5 NATUURLIKE Introduction I South Africa is a water stressed country (figure 1) currently ranking as the 30th driest country in the world (CER, 2016). Water quality, quantity and poor sanitation leads to global deaths every day, with 80% of such cases taking place in rural areas (Ochieng et al, 2010). Considering the above-mentioned, water needs to be managed in a sustainable way ensuring equitable access for all. Per Section 27 of the constitution everyone has the right to adequate water. The main constraint on water resources is competition from different sectors. Fracking is one process that competes for water resources. Agri SA is busy conducting a desktop study to inform the farming community of the potential risks and benefits associated with shale gas extraction, with a specific focus on the Karoo. This instalment looks specifically at fracking and its potential risks regarding water resources. Water security in the Karoo is of major concern due to the region being particularly dry (DMR, 2012). Water supplies are under continuous stress due to pollution and depletion while water demand is continuously rising due to population growth, industrialization, mechanization and urbanization. These increases in water demand and scarcity effects social and economic development and by extension poverty, hunger and disease (Ochieng et al, 2010). Shale gas development is a water extensive process and would increase pressure on the availability of sufficient water of an acceptable quality with a reasonable surety of supply in an already dry Karoo. 5

6 Concerns Regarding Water and Hydraulic Fracturing NATUURLIKE 1. The large volumes of water required Shale Gas Development is water intensive with each well requiring between and cubic meters (per well) of water to be fractured (DMR, 2012). The DMR suggested that as much as cubic meters may be necessary for fracking, to put this number in perspective it is equivalent to the irrigation of three hectares of Lucerne for one year (DMR, 2012). Surface water availability is generally low and the water available is already under stress and struggling to meet the demand of existing users. Potable groundwater availability for the demands of shale gas development is seriously constrained. There is potential to develop brackish or brack groundwater resources for this purpose. Except for hydraulic fracturing itself several related activities will add to water quality and quantity concerns, these include; road building; workforce accommodation etc. (CSIR, 2016). 2. Potential contamination of water resources Pollution can take place in various ways due to potential exposure to extraneous chemicals1 used during fracking (ASSAf, 2016). Contamination pathways can be seen in figure 2. The most likely source of water contamination is surface spills on site and along transport networks. Groundwater contamination is unlikely (CSIR, 2016) as water extraction for human consumption is generally limited to depths of a few hundred meters, while shale reservoirs usually lies as deep as 1000m. However, the dolerite and kimberlite intrusions in the western Karoo basin is non-uniform and its attributes deeper at 500m is unknown. Hence it is very difficult to say with certainty exactly what the real effects will be in each area so a cautious approach may be the best option. Therefor a full understanding of the hydrogeological conditions is vital to prevent contamination of groundwater (DMR, 2012). The magnitude of the impact is dependent on the proximity of the spill to water resources (CSIR, 2016). 3. Disposal of Flowback (water that flows back during the fracking process is a mixture of fracking fluid and formation) Wastewater produced after hydraulic fracturing is highly saline (ASSAf, 2016) and the proportion of flowback varies from 0 to more than 100%, if flow from underground pockets of water is considered. Flowback is either treated and disposed of or Re-used. The shale gas industry is a big proponent of water re-use. Experience in the USA suggests that treatment facilities in South Africa do not have the capacity and expertise and must be purpose built to accommodate this new type of wastewater (DMR, 2012). 6

7 Gaps in Knowledge NATUURLIKE Notwithstanding the best evidence and research, there is several factors which we simply know too little about at present. 1. A comprehensive set of baseline information encompassing the following information is imperative: We need to determination what reserve is needed (wetlands, groundwater and surface water) to ensure water demands are met for both human and ecological requirements. Reliable information regarding water use, demand and quality in the Karoo is not available. A better understanding is needed of the geology and hydrogeology of the area: hydraulic properties, geological responses, the presence of drinkable groundwater at depth, interconnectivity of aquifers. Exploratory, specialized deep drilling is needed to carry out a proper impact assessment. Improving the understanding of groundwater-surface water interaction to reduce risks to water resources. 2. Monitoring of the above mentioned is important to ensure the protection of water resources. 3. There is a lack of infrastructure and institutional capacity to ensure proper water management. Laboratories in South Africa are not equipped to analyze water quality parameters and water treatment facilities lack the capacity and expertise to accommodate the wastes associated with shale gas development. There are few groundwater scientists and technicians in South Africa with experience associated with shale gas development. These structures need to be put in place before shale gas development can be considered. 7

8 Conclusion NATUURLIKE The possibility of adverse consequences resulting from incorrect water management in the Karoo is a high risk due to a lack of institutional capacity and infrastructure. (CSIR, 2016). Concern of landowners about negative impacts on local domestic/stock water supplies is acknowledged. Local landowners are mainly reliant on groundwater resources for domestic and stock water supplies. Uncertainties associated with volumes of water available, the uses associated with fracking etc. limits the development of water and waste water management planning required to protect our water resources (CSIR, 2016). The concern surrounding shale gas development is very real, understandable and cannot be ignored. Water is a source of livelihood for the farming community and it is important to have a full understanding of possible future conflicts of interest and the recommendations made to minimize any potential risks. Reference List 1. Centre for Environmental Rights (CER). (2016). Zero Hour: Poor Governance of Mining and the Violation of Environmental Rights in Mpumalanga. 2. Ochieng G.M., Seanegi E.S., Nkwonta O.I., (2010). Impacts of mining on water resources in South Africa: A review. Scientific Research and Essays. Vol Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). (2012). Report on investigation of hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo basin of South Africa. 4. CSIR. (2016). Shale Gas Development in the Central Karoo: A Scientific Assessment of the Opportunities and Risks. Chapter Academy of Science of South Africa(ASSAf). (2016). South Africa s Technical Readiness to Support the Shale Gas Industry. 6. UN Water. (2014). The United Nations World Water Development Report 2014: Water and Energy. Volume 1. 8

9 Appendix NATUURLIKE Figure 1: Total renewable water resources per capital 2011 Figure 2: Fracking a major source of pollution Source: adapted from CCST report. 9