Activist Claim: New UK PM brings back moratorium on natural gas production methods over concerns of earth tremors
The Facts: Tremors are extremely rare when using modern natural gas production methods – and natural gas is an efficient, low-emissions energy source.
The Source:
Rishi Sunak brings back fracking ban in first PMQs
Here are some facts and sources to have a reasonable conversation about natural gas production:
- Modern natural gas production methods rarely create seismic activity that can be felt. It is usually wastewater disposal methods that trigger more seismic activity.
https://www.ipaa.org/fracking/
- Pollutants like methane in well water is usually naturally occurring and it would be a really bad well stimulation job if natural gas was able to travel sometimes more than 2km up through solid rock to water sources.
https://cogcc.state.co.us/cogis/ComplaintReport.asp?doc_num=200190138
- The fluids used to produce natural gas from tight deposits are made from 99% sand and water and need to be non-toxic. Companies must also disclose the composition of their fluids upon request and must keep a record of the type of fluids used in operations.
https://bcogc.ca/files/publications/Factsheets/Hydraulic-Fracturing-May-2020.pdf
- Despite their calls for a wind-down of traditional fuel use, the International Energy Agency still agrees that natural gas maintains a climate benefit over other fuel sources, even at leakage rates far greater than what is currently documented.
https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-gas-in-todays-energy-transitions
