Environmental, Health and Social Issues Raised by Those Opposing the Hydraulic Fracturing Process of Oil and Gas Production

Abstract

Oil and gas companies are facing increased opposition in the United States and internationally, in which opponents to oil and gas development have claimed environmental, health, and social damages based on speculative “expert” opinions. The authors review environmental, health, and social issues raised in the last few years by opponents and potential litigants opposing the hydraulic fracturing process of oil and gas production in North America, Europe and Asia. This paper provides an example of the kind of data presented by opponents and potential litigants, the status of the current science, and identifies the key strategies used by opponents to impede hydraulic fracturing. The authors include recent research of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Bureau of Economy Geology, the authors and authoritative international bodies. The results of this research can be applied by petroleum industry in reducing the potential for atmospheric, ground surface and subsurface impacts from hydrofraturing related oil and gas production. The authors also use the recent science to illustrate counter-strategies for addressing these issues successfully and cites examples of their success. In this paper we review the most common key issues and the criteria used by The World Bank and embodied in the Equator Principals, and their consistency with the “Daubert” “Gate Keeper” which the U.S. Supreme Court established for allowing only expert testimony based on facts and scientific methods. Understanding these criteria will help strategizers worldwide prepare successful challenges to speculative and unfounded claims and, where claims are truly legitimate, help stakeholders identify sound evidence and experts address successfully. The environmental, health, and social key issues to be discussed include the following: Air Emissions Habitat fragmentation Surface and Ground Water Contamination Water Use Seismic Activity Associated Activities: e.g. Mining of Sand/Gravel; Traffic

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90259 ©2016 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-22, 2016