Fracking: Environmental concerns
This training provides an overview of environmental factors which should be considered as part of the planning application processes, to ensure that potential future fracking activities are carried out at low impact to the environment.
Ticket information
This event is free for BRMF and LACL members.
This event costs £190 + VAT for non members.
When?
3 December 2014, 9:45am - 4:15pm.
Background
Hydraulic fracturing (better known as fracking) has received much media attention in past months, with the UK government encouraging ‘safe and environmentally sound exploration’ to determine exploitable shale gas reserves.
A lot of attention has focussed on issues surrounding on trespass beneath homes by horizontal drilling, micro-fracturing and potential for earthquakes or sink holes and some discussion on the potential for contamination of water supplies.
The technology requires the use of large volumes of water which could impact supply, chemical additives to facilitate gas flow, that will need to be removed / remediated. Soil arisings which may become contaminated by some of these additives. These are issues which need to considered in assessing applications which will require mitigation plans to be presented.
This training provides an overview of environmental factors which should be considered as part of the planning application processes, to ensure that potential future fracking activities are carried out at low impact to the environment.
Who should attend?
Local authorities, clients, consultants.
CPD
This event has a value of 5 hours towards your CPD. As recognised by ICE, CIOB, CIBSE, IstructE.
Programme
09:45 Registration
10:15 Fracking – an introduction to the processes involved, how it varies from conventional hydrocarbon extraction methods, addressing misconceptions associated with the activity and identifying key environmental concerns.
11:00 Monitoring – establishing baseline conditions prior to well development and designing appropriate and robust monitoring schemes to allow any contamination to be identified and remediated quickly and efficiently.
11:30 Refreshments
12:00 Volumes of water required – it is important that to identify water requirements and sustainable sources to meet this requirement, throughout the life time of the wells.
12:45 Lunch
13:45 Contaminants and risks to groundwater – discussion around the contaminants used during the fracking process. This addresses their mobility, persistence and toxicity in the environment.
14:30 Uncontrolled gas release- a discussion around small and large scale pathways which could allow methane and other gases to migrate from the extraction wells to surrounding receptors, with potentially hazardous effects.
15:30 Land reclamation and restoration plans – issues surrounding land reclamation following fracking activities at a site, highlighting the need for thorough restoration plans at the planning application stage.
16:00 Summary and conclusions
16:00 Close
Where?
WYG, 1 Locksley Business Park, Montgomery Road, Belfast, BT6 9UP
Partners
Booking
If you are unable to book online, please contact Patrick Williams on 0207 549 3308
0207 549 3308 or return the booking form by post or fax.