Fracking Increases Flux of Radioactive Elements ‘Within Range’, Says Study

Additional scientific research on fracking is needed, as the technique to produce gas from shale leads to an increase of radioactivity in waterways, says research published by academics at Durham University. Despite this warning, the team said that fracking would not infringe UK’s laws. 

“The findings of this research confirm that levels of water radioactivity in the flowback water from shale gas operations would be lower than the annual exposure limit set by the Environment Agency... We, in the UK, already handle larger volumes of fluid with higher radioactivity from other energy industries, such as conventional oil and gas production,” said Fred Worrall, scientist at ReFINE, research centre on Fracking at Durham University. 

Analysing the Bowland shale in the UK, the Silurian shales in Poland and the Carboniferous Barnett shale in the US, the research team concluded that shale gas exploitation is compatible with laws, having a lower impact than conventional offshore production. 

‘Shale gas exploitation will result in increased flux of radioactive elements to controlled waters including to surface water bodies. However, it is clear that fluxes are within range of those that might be experienced elsewhere in the world from use of natural groundwaters; lower than other discharges even from the non-nuclear sector; and lower than those from other energy production including both conventional offshore oil and gas production,’ reads the academic paper released by four scientists.  

The study is consistent with British government’s push for an increased level of indigenous gas production, but it also highlights the need to advance with precaution in order to avoid environmental damages.  

‘In a ‘worst case scenario’ for the Barnett shale and Silurian shale, radioactivity of flowback fluid would be between seven and eight times the levels expected from local groundwater. For the Bowland shale, a ‘worst case scenario’ found that flowback fluid would be 500 times more radioactive than the level expected from local groundwater.’

In this context, scientists claim that research has to play a central role in this process.

“The publication of ReFINE’s fourth research paper comes at a critical time in the national debate around shale gas and oil exploitation. It underlines the need to have up-to-date independent and impartial scientific research on issues which the public wants and the government needs. As the findings of our latest paper make clear, we must remember to set fracking in the context of other types of energy,” Richard Davies, of Durham University and ReFINE Project Leader, commented in a note released earlier this week.