The future for Fermanagh? Aedín McLoughlin Good Energies Alliance Ireland

Transcription

1 The future for Fermanagh? 1 Aedín McLoughlin Good Energies Alliance Ireland

2 S h a l e G a s i n I r e l a n d G a s e x t r a c t i o n a n d c h e m i c a l s u s e d M i n i n g s i t e s o r P a d s P o s s i b l e C o n s e q u e n c e s to L a n d Wa t e r R i s k s, G a i n s a n d L o s s e s 2

3 Source: EIA_World_Shale_Gas_Map.png 3

4 Rathlin Is Coleraine Ballymoney Ballymena Antrim Larne Carrickfergus Belleek Pettigo Belcoo Enniskillen Teemore 4

5 Four oil/gas exploration companies granted licences in N.I. Fermanagh - Tamboran Rathlin Island - Providence Rathlin Basin - Rathlin Energy Larne Basin - Infrastrata Exploratory licence in Fermanagh: Test drills in 2 sites using hydraulic fracturing. Number of wells is still small. At end of exploratory stage, gas production licences could be sought. This could take five years or more. Gas Production licence: Thousands of wells + gas pipe network + 5

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7 2.5 acres concrete platform, access road, drill, water pit the size of a soccer pitch, trucks, waste-water containers, pipes, etc. 7

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9 The process of shale gas extraction 9

10 (Not to scale) Flat hardcore pad (7 acre) + access road constructed Well drilled 500-1,000 metres to shale layer At shale layer, drill turns and moves horizontally. Drill removed, steel pipe pushed down the shaft. Cement poured around the pipe to act as barrier. Up to 24 wells per mining site (pad) 10

11 Perforating gun cracks shale. Fracking fluid made million gallons per well with 5% sand and 55,000 litres (kg) additives/ chemicals. Pumped down at huge pressures, widens cracks, releases gas. Up to 40% comes back up as flowback - 1 million gallons of wastewater per well. Up to 24 wells per pad. 11

12 Drilling stage Polyacrylamide gel or similar produces slickwater, reduces friction during drilling. Acid, e.g. 15% hydrochloric acid. Cleans pipes and residue of explosions in shale. Surfactants (detergents). Hydraulic Fracturing stage Gelling agents, e.g. guar gum. Help keep sand in suspension Biocides, e.g. glutaraldehyde. Kill bacteria underground. Maintenance stage Corrosion inhibitors, e.g. acetaldehyde and Oxygen scavengers, e.g. ammonium bisulphide. Prevent corrosion of steel tube. 12

13 Gas Production Stage What we would see on the ground 13

14 Pumps lined up to produce the 10,000 to 14,000 psi used to crack the shale 14

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18 Slide courtesy of Sonya O Dwyer 18

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21 N16 A4 Slide courtesy of Eddie Mitchell 21

22 Possible consequences to land and water 22

23 1. Change of land use concrete pads + access roads + gas pipes + heavy machinery throughout the area. Intense industrialisation. 2. Dust and smog from pads contain: Heavy metals, e.g. lead, mercury, Petroleum products e.g benzene, toluene Radioactive elements, e.g. radium, radon. 3. Heavy traffic throughout the area for 20 years. 100 heavy vehicles per day per village. 4. Tremors or earthquakes due to destabilisation of shale layer underground. 23

24 Usage: hundreds of millions of gallons of water used. 1 million gallons per well or more flows back up to 40% of what went down. Contains Salt high concentrations up to 20% (seawater = 3%) Chemicals used during fracking Heavy metals, petroleum products, radioactive elements from shale layer 1 mile down This is put into wastewater tanks the size of a house. Some can be reused in US, 50%. What do we do with the rest of it? Add to groundwater? Inject into wells? Treatment plants? 24

25 Risk of chemical accidents: during transport, addition or pumping into wells. Risk of spillages: of frac fluids or flowback fluids containing salts, petroleum chemicals and increased levels of radioactivity into rivers or lakes. Loughs Melvin and MacNean especially threatened Risk of leakages: of liquids or gases from wells into surrounding rock or water table. 20% of new wells leak. Contamination inevitable (Prof. Ingraffea) Risks of blowbacks: 1 in 1,000 wells admitted. Lough Erne water system at risk! 25

26 Ballyshannon limestone rises to sea level in Donegal Ballyshannon Limestone layer underneath target fracking layer Source: Tamboran Resources presentation to Leitrim County Council September 2011 Text in black boxes added by GEAI 26

27 LAND 100,000 acres taken over Heavy industry and traffic Spillages of toxic wastewater Tourism gone WATER Contamination of lakes, rivers, wells, ground water Toxic chemicals get into food chain Milk & meat contaminated Agriculture devastated AIR Heavy industry and traffic Dust, smog, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, fumes Noise and stress Public health deteriorated 27

28 GAINS Temporary boom & jobs quarries, lorry and machinery owners, lowlevel jobs Some industries and businesses make money during boom Some landowners lease their land for a few years Revenue for the Crown Local source of gas LOSSES A mining area rather than a rural farming area Beauty and tranquillity of area gone Rural tourism destroyed, revenue falls Risk to quality and reputation of meat/milk and agriculture Risk of polluting Erne water system and lakes Public health risk Quality of Life deteriorated 28

29 Find and join your nearest anti-fracking group. Demand at least a moratorium. Lobby, Lobby, LOBBY every voice is HUGE. Provide any help you can, according to your talents and ability: public speaking, photo taking, peaceful demonstrations, writing. Educate yourself so you can educate others. Talk to your children and their teachers. Demand that your local authority and national government keep water, communities and families safe. Make fracking an election issue, at all levels! Sign the petition available here or at: 29

30 This presentation can be downloaded from: Goodenergiesalliance.com Please contact us via the website, blog, Facebook or Twitter Thank you all for your kind attention! 30