In the US where shale gas fracking is common, the wastewater produced is commonly injected into underground wells but it is not clear whether this will be an option in the UK, Accenture said.
Accenture said the UK’s biggest challenge will be its population density. Melissa Stark, managing director of Accenture’s energy industry group, said: “The UK is much more densely populated than the US, making the management of movements more challenging. For example, in some plays, the transportation of water can account for 60-80 per cent of the logistics requirement with the vast majority of this during fracking and completion.
“Of course the water requirement differs dramatically depending on the characteristics of the shale and the geology. But the sharp influx of logistics activity during the drilling and fracking phases can have a significant impact on the local community.”
Also responding to government’s announcement, Adam Nell from law firm DWF said laws protecting the environment and groundwater will need to be enforced to protect aquifers in areas where fracking is proposed. But he said the biggest barrier to the development of the fracking industry will be public perception.
“The fact remains that there is an impending energy gap that needs to be filled, and the government has decided that shale gas extraction must be explored to see if it will assist in dealing with this problem. In the meantime, people are likely to consider how to use the law to protect their homes and business interests,” Nell said.
Green investment firm Climate Change Capital criticised the government’s fracking decision. Ben Caldecott, head of policy, said: “Fracking will continue to generate significant local opposition, which will undermine long term political support and the investment case for a UK shale gas expansion. This is fortunate, as it’s clear from the latest Committee on Climate Change findings that another dash for gas will expose us to higher and more volatile fuel prices.”