Shale gas - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported: Doing upload, largely of old redirects.

2018-06-04T16:52:23Z

1 revision imported: Doing upload, largely of old redirects.

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Jmdonev at 17:12, 1 June 2018

2018-06-01T17:12:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:12, 1 June 2018
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	[[Category: Done ~~2015~~-06-11]]		[[Category:Done 2018-06-01]]
	[[File:640px-Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Shale gas drilling tower that drills into the Marcellus Shale Formation.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 25, 2015). ''Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Tower'' [Online]. Available: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg#/media/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:640px-Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Shale gas drilling tower that drills into the Marcellus Shale Formation.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 25, 2015). ''Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Tower'' [Online]. Available: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg#/media/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Shale gas''' is a type of [[natural gas]] that is trapped within shale ~~formations - arrangements~~ of fine-grained [[sedimentary rock]] that are known as "~~plays~~" if they contain significant amounts of natural gas.</onlyinclude><ref name="RE1">Geology.com. (May 25, 2015). ''What is Shale Gas?'' [Online]. Available: http://geology.com/energy/shale-gas/</ref> This type of natural gas is "contained in" shale formations and absorbed into organic matter.<ref name="RE2">Alberta Energy. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/944.asp</ref> Shale is a common sedimentary rock composed of clay and fragments of other minerals. Shale can be the source, [[oil and gas reservoir\|reservoir]] rock, or the seal for natural gas.		<onlyinclude>'''Shale gas''' is a type of [[natural gas]] that is trapped within shale formations—arrangements of fine-grained [[sedimentary rock]] that are known as "[[natural gas play]]s" if they contain significant amounts of natural gas.</onlyinclude><ref name="RE1">Geology.com. (May 25, 2015). ''What is Shale Gas?'' [Online]. Available: http://geology.com/energy/shale-gas/</ref> This type of natural gas is "contained in" shale formations and absorbed into organic matter.<ref name="RE2">Alberta Energy. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/944.asp</ref> Shale is a common sedimentary rock composed of clay and fragments of other minerals. Shale can be the source, [[oil and gas reservoir\|reservoir]] rock, or the seal for natural gas.

	In Canada, shale gas resources are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Most of the current drilling occurs in British Columbia.<ref name="NRCAN">Natural Resources Canada. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/natural-gas/5687</ref>		In Canada, shale gas resources are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Most of the current drilling occurs in British Columbia.<ref name="NRCAN">Natural Resources Canada. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/natural-gas/5687</ref>
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	A life cycle analysis of shale gas in Canada estimated that shale gas produces on average 4% higher [[greenhouse gas]] [[emission]]s than conventional Canadian gas. However, these emissions are still lower than those from [[coal]] or [[oil]] but much higher than those from other [[renewable energy\|renewable resources]].<ref name="NRCAN"/>		A life cycle analysis of shale gas in Canada estimated that shale gas produces on average 4% higher [[greenhouse gas]] [[emission]]s than conventional Canadian gas. However, these emissions are still lower than those from [[coal]] or [[oil]] but much higher than those from other [[renewable energy\|renewable resources]].<ref name="NRCAN"/>

	Although natural gas burns more cleanly than oil or coal, there are still environmental issues associated with the drilling and production of shale gas. The first issue is that the drilling and fracturing of these wells requires a large amount of water. In some areas, significant water use for shale gas could affect the availability of water for other uses or affect aquatic habitats. ~~As well~~, drilling and fracturing produces large amounts of waste water that can contain contaminants. This results in the water requiring treatment before disposal or reuse. How waste water should be treated and disposed is a complex issue. Additionally, hydraulic fracking fluid can be a contaminant if not managed properly as spills or leaks could occur. The chemicals in the fracking fluid can be dangerous, and any release of the fluid could result in contamination of groundwater for drinking or habitats for wildlife.<ref name="RE1"/>		Although natural gas burns more cleanly than oil or coal, there are still environmental issues associated with the drilling and production of shale gas. The first issue is that the drilling and fracturing of these wells requires a large amount of water. In some areas, significant water use for shale gas could affect the availability of water for other uses or affect aquatic habitats. In addition, drilling and fracturing produces large amounts of waste water that can contain contaminants. This results in the water requiring treatment before disposal or reuse. How waste water should be treated and disposed is a complex issue. Additionally, hydraulic fracking fluid can be a contaminant if not managed properly as spills or leaks could occur. The chemicals in the fracking fluid can be dangerous, and any release of the fluid could result in contamination of groundwater for drinking or habitats for wildlife.<ref name="RE1"/>

	Some have also argued that [[methane]] emissions from drilling and hydraulic fracturing are significant. Although large amounts of methane are produced, most gas produced is captured and flared or gathered for processing and sale. Once the well is completed this gas is processed the same way gas from conventional wells is, so although there are significant amounts of methane emissions produced, they are no different than emissions from other natural gas wells.<ref name="NRCAN"/>		Some have also argued that [[methane]] emissions from drilling and hydraulic fracturing are significant. Although large amounts of methane are produced, most gas produced is captured and flared or gathered for processing and sale. Once the well is completed this gas is processed the same way gas from conventional wells is, so although there are significant amounts of methane emissions produced, they are no different than emissions from other natural gas wells.<ref name="NRCAN"/>

			==For Further Reading==
			*[[Fuel]]
			*[[Fossil fuel]]
			*[[Fossil fuel formation]]
			*[[Carbon]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:31:38Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:31, 26 August 2015
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J.williams at 16:59, 12 August 2015

2015-08-12T16:59:00Z

New page

[[Category: Done 2015-06-11]]
[[File:640px-Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg|400px|framed|right|Figure 1. Shale gas drilling tower that drills into the Marcellus Shale Formation.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (May 25, 2015). ''Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Tower'' [Online]. Available: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg#/media/File:Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling_Tower_2.jpg</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>'''Shale gas''' is a type of [[natural gas]] that is trapped within shale formations - arrangements of fine-grained [[sedimentary rock]] that are known as "plays" if they contain significant amounts of natural gas.</onlyinclude><ref name="RE1">Geology.com. (May 25, 2015). ''What is Shale Gas?'' [Online]. Available: http://geology.com/energy/shale-gas/</ref> This type of natural gas is "contained in" shale formations and absorbed into organic matter.<ref name="RE2">Alberta Energy. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/944.asp</ref> Shale is a common sedimentary rock composed of clay and fragments of other minerals. Shale can be the source, [[oil and gas reservoir|reservoir]] rock, or the seal for natural gas.

In Canada, shale gas resources are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Most of the current drilling occurs in British Columbia.<ref name="NRCAN">Natural Resources Canada. (May 25, 2015). ''Shale Gas'' [Online]. Available: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/natural-gas/5687</ref>

==Exploration==
Finding shale gas uses the same basic methods for exploring for traditional petroleum deposits combined with specialized techniques for finding shale gas. 2D and 3D seismic profiles (generated by monitoring acoustic [[wave]]s that have reflected off of rocks) are used for determining the depth and properties of shale deposits and drilling is used to observe the rock's physical and chemical characteristics while determining the quality and quantity of the shale gas.<ref name="NRCAN"/>

==Drilling==
Generally speaking shale formations have low [[permeability]], thus [[fluid]]s do not flow easily through the formation and generally require extra effort to access gas or oil trapped within them. Because of this, special techniques such as fracturing must be used to produce shale gas. Since accessing shale gas is difficult and requires special techniques, shale gas is considered an [[unconventional resource]].<ref name="RE2"/>

There are two major drilling techniques that are used to access shale gas. The first of these is [[horizontal drilling]], which is where a well is drilled into the rock formation that starts going straight down, and then bends so that there is a horizontal part to the borehole as well.<ref name="RE2"/> When the rock formation is hit, the drill bit is moved to drill horizontally which exposes the well to more of the shale that is producing the gas.<ref name="RE1"/> The horizontal section of the well bore is usually from 1 to 3 kilometres long.<ref name="NRCAN"/>

The second method is known as [[hydraulic fracturing|'''hydraulic fracking''']] or '''hydrofracking''' (or sometimes just '''fracking'''). In this technique water, chemicals, and sand are pumped into the shale gas well. This opens fractures in the rock and allows natural gas from the shale to flow into the well. Without these techniques, natural gas does not flow to the well quickly and the wells are not economical.<ref name="RE1"/>

==Environmental Concerns==
A life cycle analysis of shale gas in Canada estimated that shale gas produces on average 4% higher [[greenhouse gas]] [[emission]]s than conventional Canadian gas. However, these emissions are still lower than those from [[coal]] or [[oil]] but much higher than those from other [[renewable energy|renewable resources]].<ref name="NRCAN"/>

Although natural gas burns more cleanly than oil or coal, there are still environmental issues associated with the drilling and production of shale gas. The first issue is that the drilling and fracturing of these wells requires a large amount of water. In some areas, significant water use for shale gas could affect the availability of water for other uses or affect aquatic habitats. As well, drilling and fracturing produces large amounts of waste water that can contain contaminants. This results in the water requiring treatment before disposal or reuse. How waste water should be treated and disposed is a complex issue. Additionally, hydraulic fracking fluid can be a contaminant if not managed properly as spills or leaks could occur. The chemicals in the fracking fluid can be dangerous, and any release of the fluid could result in contamination of groundwater for drinking or habitats for wildlife.<ref name="RE1"/>

Some have also argued that [[methane]] emissions from drilling and hydraulic fracturing are significant. Although large amounts of methane are produced, most gas produced is captured and flared or gathered for processing and sale. Once the well is completed this gas is processed the same way gas from conventional wells is, so although there are significant amounts of methane emissions produced, they are no different than emissions from other natural gas wells.<ref name="NRCAN"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]