As the government is about to announce shale gas policy, experts highlighted some of the issues that must be considered while allowing exploration and production of the fuel.
Shale gas and oil are produced from rock formations using “fracking” technology. This injects water and sand at high pressure into wells drilled horizontally from a single drill pad in multiple directions, tapping a wide area of shale to make production profitable.
Environmentalists fear that fracking will use up scarce water, contaminate drinking water, lead to dumping of dangerous chemicals, and cause methane leakage and earthquakes.
Experts suggest that fracking must be limited initially to coastal areas that can use seawater, and to high-rainfall areas prone to floods and waterlogging: eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and the north-east.
Experts also suggest that every company must specify what chemicals it is using (in the water), and eliminate dangerous ones.
All water that flows back after fracking must be recycled into fresh fracking, not dumped anywhere. This will conserve water while avoiding contamination.
Gas drilling should be permitted only in deep formations far below acquifers used for irrigation and drinking. New techniques of double-sealing to check gas leaks should be mandated, experts suggest.
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