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Maximizing the EU shale gas potential by minimizing its environmental footprint

Objective

Securing abundant, affordable, and clean energy remains a critical scientific challenge. Fortuitously, large shale formations occur within Europe. As the conventional gas production in Europe peaked in 2004, European shale gas could become a practical necessity for the next 50 years. However, the exploitation of shale gas remains challenging. Further, its environmental footprint is at present poorly quantified. Great care is needed to assess and pursue this energy resource in the safest possible way for the long-term future of Europe whilst protecting the European diverse natural environment.

With this in mind, ShaleXenvironmenT assembled a multi-disciplinary academic team, with strong industrial connections. A comprehensive approach is proposed towards ensuring that the future development of shale gas in Europe will safeguard the public with the best environmental data suitable for governmental appraisal, and ultimately for encouraging industrial best practice.

The primary objective is to assess the environmental footprint of shale gas exploitation in Europe in terms of water usage and contamination, induced seismicity, and fugitive emissions. Using synergistically experiments and modeling activities, ShaleXenvironmenT will achieve its objective via a fundamental understanding of rock-fluid interactions, fluid transport, and fracture initiation and propagation, via technological innovations obtained in collaboration with industry, and via improvements on characterization tools. ShaleXenvironmenT will maintain a transparent discussion with all stakeholders, including the public, and will suggest ideas for approaches on managing shale gas exploitation, impacts and risks in Europe, and eventually worldwide.

The proposed research will bring economical benefits for consultancy companies, service industry, and oil and gas conglomerates. The realization of shale gas potential in Europe is expected to contribute clean energy for, e.g., the renaissance of the manufacturing industry.

Programme(s)

H2020-EU.3.3.2.3. - Develop competitive and environmentally safe technologies for CO2 capture, transport, storage and re-use

Topic(s)

LCE-16-2014 - Understanding, preventing and mitigating the potential environmental impacts and risks of shale gas exploration and exploitation

Call for proposal

H2020-LCE-2014-1

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Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Address

Gower Street
Wc1e 6bt London

United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 829 755

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Participants (10)

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CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO PERLO SVILUPPO DEI SISTEMI A GRANDE INTERFASE

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 309 985

ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS

France

EU Contribution

€ 249 938

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 319 992

"NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS"""

Greece

EU Contribution

€ 250 000

UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 280 000

USTAV FYZIKALNI CHEMIE J. HEYROVSKEHO AV CR, v. v. i.

Czechia

EU Contribution

€ 209 987,50

USTAV CHEMICKYCH PROCESU AV CR, v. v. i.

Czechia

EU Contribution

€ 150 000

HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM POTSDAM DEUTSCHESGEOFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GFZ

Germany

EU Contribution

€ 249 550

GEOMECON GMBH

Germany

EU Contribution

€ 149 993,75

HALLIBURTON MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES LIMITED

United Kingdom

Project information

Grant agreement ID: 640979

 Project website

  • Start date

    1 September 2015

  • End date

    31 August 2018

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.3.2.3.

  • Overall budget:

    € 3 399 201,75

  • EU contribution

    € 2 999 201,25

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

United Kingdom

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Last update: 24 June 2019

Record number: 193771