Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3 Environment Agency water resource assessment for England and Wales.
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4 Contaminant/Pollutant Sources
Shale gas operations, as with many other industrial activities, involve the use
and/or production of chemicals and materials that are hazardous. The risks
associated with these hazards needs to be assessed and managed effectively
if the activity is to be carried out safely. In managing the risks there is a need
to understand the hazards. The focus here is specifically on risks to
groundwater, but many of them will also be relevant to different parts of the
water environment.
4.1 Drilling
Shale gas exploration and exploitation requires the drilling of wells from the
surface to the required depth(s). The process of drilling requires the dis-
turbance of the ground and in many locations the wells will penetrate
