The study revealed “highly variable” failure rates, ranging from 1.9 per cent up to 75 per cent across 12 different countries, although publically available data on well failures in Europe was said to be “scarce”.
In the UK, there was only 1 reported well integrity failure – the failure of cement, valves or the steel casing within the well which led to release of fluid into the environment – from 143 onshore wells that were still producing at the end of 2000.
Professor Richard Davies, ReFINE project leader, said data on active and abandoned wells would “help assess the impact of shale exploitation”.
The UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) said the report highlighted the UK’s “exemplary record” on onshore oil and gas exploration.
Lawrence Carter, Greenpeace energy campaigner, warned that “fracking is a much more intensive, high pressure process than conventional oil and gas extraction and therefore poses a higher risk”.
A spokesperson from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) said the report highlighted the importance of well construction and that “experts will also consider all aspects of the design and construction of wells, including how they will be made safe after they are no longer in use.”