The ASSIST project is funded under a broader programme of research. To find out more about this programme, go to the following website:
https://research.ncl.ac.uk/ukuh/
Here are some frequently asked questions about this overall programme:
1. What is the motivation for this programme?
Meeting future energy demand for the UK is likely to require new approaches and technologies. Unconventional extraction of natural gas, specifically from shale, may be one potential source of energy for the UK in future. As such, we need to better understand the environmental and socio-economic impacts of this technology to provide evidence for decision-making around shale gas development at the local, regional and national level.
2. Is this an enabling project for shale gas?
No, this programme is not an enabling project for shale gas. It is aimed at providing an independent and current scientific evidence base to help the public, regulators, policymakers and industry in making informed decisions on the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons in the UK. Published data from the programme will be publicly available.
3. Shale gas extraction is currently not permitted in Scotland, will research occur in Scotland?
Field sites will not be in Scotland but Scottish research institutes and affiliated project partners are permitted to be involved in the research. All research institutes funded under this programme are published online and can be found on NERC grants on the web.
4. Will the research programme be funding fracking?
No. Hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) is a process whereby fluid is pumped under very high pressure into deep rock in order to widen cracks or create new cracks allowing unconventional extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale gas. Programme funding will not be available to support the unconventional extraction of hydrocarbons. The purpose of the research programme is to provide current independent scientific evidence to understand potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of the unconventional extraction of hydrocarbons.
The economic costs of unconventional hydrocarbons extraction and the requirement for a licence mean that it is limited to be a commercial activity only. The costs are far greater than the funds available to a research project in this programme. Grant holders may propose to collaborate with a project partner(s) to monitor or observe commercial enterprises undertaking unconventional hydrocarbon extraction in line with any relevant licensing/ planning rules and in keeping with any relevant laws.
5. Are you trying to change public opinion on fracking?
No. The intention is to understand public opinion, not to change it. This programme will provide research based evidence, to enable the public, regulators, policymakers and industry to make informed decisions on unconventional hydrocarbon extraction in the UK. Published data from the programme will be made available publicly.
6. Are industry/NGOs involved in this research?
A wide group of stakeholders are represented on the independent Programme Advisory Board (PAB), which advise on the research funding directions and identify research gaps. Individual stakeholders can also actively participate in specific research projects as project partners; this means that they support the delivery of the research project by providing in kind support such as access to evidence, facilities or data.
7. Will the UK Geoenergy Observatories facilities be used for this research?
Two of the funded consortia are intending to use the NERC £31m UK Geoenergy Observatories infrastructure project, which is currently being commissioned by the British Geological Survey (BGS).
The UK Geoenergy Observatories project aims to provide scientific ‘test beds’ in two geologically-distinct locations in the UK. Each site will comprise a network of deep and shallow boreholes, enabling geoscientists to undertake long-term observation of the subsurface in unprecedented detail for the first time. The infrastructure will enable research to deliver new information to interpret, model and monitor the environment from the surface down to 1,500m.
The potential locations of the UK Geoenergy Observatories project are in Cheshire and Glasgow. Cheshire is a potential location for monitoring and observing the effects of shale gas extraction and the specific proposals mentioned above, funded under the Unconventional Hydrocarbon programme will be focussed on this location.
The UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire aims to enable research studies on a range of sub-surface energy topics including carbon storage, geothermal energy and compressed air storage. Neither the BGS nor NERC/ESRC are proposing to undertake unconventional gas extraction and the research site in Cheshire is not dependent on unconventional extraction of natural gas taking place.
8. Why has this programme been funded now?
NERC has an ‘ideas process’ which is a open to all including the academic community, research, policy makers and the general public, and allows individuals and/or groups to suggest topics for strategic research investments. (Further information here: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/portfolio/strategic/ideas/) The Unconventional Hydrocarbons programme was suggested through this process in 2015 and was then further scoped and refined before being confirmed (by various independent NERC boards) as a topic for investment.
This topic has been prioritised because meeting future energy demand for the UK is likely to require new approaches and technologies. Unconventional extraction of natural gas, in particular from shale, is one potential source of gas for the UK and we need to understand the environmental and socio-economic impacts of this technology. Research based evidence is vital to inform decision-making around shale gas development at the local, regional and national level.
9. How will the data be collected?
As the purpose is to create an independent evidence base, research will involve independent measurements led and taken by the researchers.
10. How and when will the public find out the results of this research?
We aim to be transparent and accessible in providing the results of the research findings translated into meaningful language for the public. All scientific publications arising from this programme will be peer reviewed and published in journals that are compliant with the RCUK Policy on Open Access. Research findings will also be published on the NERC programme website.
11. Given the concerns around the sustainability of shale gas as an energy resource, why are you doing this research?
Good decisions require good evidence. The evidence is required to understand the potential impacts of the unconventional extraction of hydrocarbons and this is the purpose of the programme.
12. The oil and gas industry have been extracting for many years so why is this necessary?
Shale gas extraction is a relatively unexplored science, especially in the UK, so we do need to understand the potential impacts to enable decisions to be evidence-based.
13. Should we really be investing in carbon?
Globally, there is high interest in shale gas extraction so we need to understand the risks and potential impacts. This programme aims to provide research-based evidence to enable policy-makers, industry and the public to make informed decisions.
14. How will this work relate to the recent academic discussions on shale resources?
This programme is focused on understanding and gathering research evidence of the sustainability and impact of the unconventional extraction of hydrocarbons. However, there may be some research findings which could contribute towards this wider discussion on shale resources. The research funded under the Unconventional Hydrocarbons programme will provide data and evidence, which will be publically available and published.