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Environmental Aspects on Unconventional Fossil Fuels

Related studies

• July 2018:
  • Application in relevant Member States of the Commission Recommendations on minimum principles for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons (such as shale gas) using high-volume hydraulic fracturing and related developments relevant for hydrocarbon activities
    This study (1) analyses the responses of member States to the 2015 and 2016 questionnaires on the application of Recommendation 2014/70/EU, (2) describes regulatory and non-regulatory developments in Member States for the period April 2015 to March 2017 and (3) assesses national practices in the framework of planning, licensing and permitting activities in relevant Member States.
• October 2016:
  • Study on the management of environmental impacts and risks of conventional oil and gas (onshore and offshore) and tight gas (offshore) extraction
    This report assesses the environmental risks, impacts and risk management measures associated with the conventional exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the EU. It also covers processes and technologies associated with offshore tight gas activities.
• February 2016: 
  • Study on the application in 11 Member States of the Recommendation 2014/70/EU on minimum principles for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons (such as shale gas) using high-volume hydraulic fracturing 
    This study assesses how Member States applied the principles of the Recommendation and selected EU legal requirements at the planning, licensing and permitting levels based on data collected from January 2014 to August 2015. In addition, it describes regulatory and non-regulatory developments in Member States after the adoption of the Recommendation and gathers stakeholders’ views.
    • Country reports
    • Stakeholders' consultation
• September 2015:
  • Study on the management of environmental impacts and risks of tight gas, tight oil and coal bed methane extraction (onshore)
    This study aims at identifying and assessing relevant measures for managing the risks resulting from unconventional fossil fuels developments other than shale gas (i.e. tight gas, tight oil, coal bed methane).
• April - July 2014: The Commission has released three new studies on shale gas by external consultants. These studies supported the work of the Commission on the Recommendation, Communication and Impact Assessment published in January 2014
• Technical support for assessing the need for a risk management framework for shale gas extraction
  This report presents an overview of the issues associated with unconventional gas extraction that uses high volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling (such as shale gas) from an environmental and regulatory perspective; an assessment of measures available to address environmental risks and their impacts; and a description of selected policy options available to implement such measures.
• Macro-economic effects of shale gas extraction in the EU
  The overall aim of this study is to assess the impacts of different environmental risk management policies for shale gas on the energy system and the economy. More specifically, this study explores the macro-economic impacts of shale gas development under a base case scenario as well as two alternative policy scenarios to manage environmental risks.  
• Mitigation of climate impacts of possible future shale gas extraction in the EU: available technologies, best practices and options for policy makers
  This study follows up on the 2012 study 'Climate impact of potential shale gas production in the EU' (see below). The objective of this second study was to develop a list of possible policy options for minimizing greenhouse gas emissions during exploration and production of shale gas in the EU, and to assess climate, environmental, social and economic impacts of selected options.
• In 2013 the Commission has released the following studies:
• Overview of hydraulic fracturing and other formation stimulation technologies for shale gas production
  This study reviews hydraulic fracturing and alternative fracturing technologies, by searching the open literature, patent databases and commercial websites. Each identified technique is briefly explained, its rationale, state of application, potential advantages and disadvantages are identified, and some considerations on costs are given. It was updated in 2015.
• Study on the assessment of land and water use scenarios for shale gas development: Poland and Germany
  This study focuses on pressures on freshwater resources and land use competition with respect to shale gas development in illustrative case studies in Germany and Poland.
• Assessment of the use of certain substances in hydraulic fracturing of shale gas reservoirs under REACH
  This study assesses a number of REACH registration dossiers related to 16 substances that may be used for hydraulic fracturing of shale gas reservoirs.
  
• Study on the regulatory provisions governing key aspects of unconventional gas development in eight Member States
  The main objective of this study was to identify differences and commonalities in the approaches to the development of gas from unconventional reservoirs followed by the selected Member States and to examine the potential limitations and useful examples of regulatory provisions. This study was conducted on the basis of information collected between October 2012 and April 2013. Country reports are presented as separate documents.

• September 2012: The Commission has released three studies on shale gas, as part of its information gathering process and as background for decisions on possible next steps (Press Release).

  • Potential risks for the environment and human health arising from shale gas extraction in Europe
    The study on environmental impacts shows that extracting shale gas generally imposes a larger environmental footprint than conventional gas development. Risks of surface and ground water contamination, water resource depletion, air and noise emissions, land take, disturbance to biodiversity and impacts related to traffic are deemed to be high in the case of multiple projects. A considerable number of questions relating to legislation and regulation have been identified, implying the need for an appropriate framework to ensure an environmentally acceptable shale gas extraction in Europe (Please note that the study was re-issued on 11 February 2013 with minor corrections in the preliminary risk screening).
  • Climate Impact of Potential Shale Gas Production in the EU
    The study on climate impacts shows that shale gas produced in the EU causes more GHG emissions than conventional natural gas produced in the EU, but - if well managed - less than imported gas from outside the EU, be it via pipeline or by LNG due to the impacts on emissions from long-distance gas transport.
  • Unconventional Gas: Potential Energy Market Impacts in the European Union
    The study on energy market impacts shows that unconventional gas developments in the US have led to greater Liquefied Natural Gas supplies becoming available at global level, indirectly influencing EU gas prices.