Conclusions and Recommendations

The main findings and recommendations of the report are below.

• Public confidence in Shale Gas is low and to inspire faith in the industry, a greater dialogue with public and local government is needed.
• Neighbours to drilling derive little or no benefit from wells on or near their land through UK law.
• Shale Gas companies must restore public favour by addressing concerns and considering contributing to the local community.
• This is essential so that public discontent does not grow and reflect on the industry as a whole.
• IGEM welcomes the findings of the Energy and Climate Change Committee and broadly supports EA policy.
• IGEM recommends that if open pits are used to contain flowback water, they be designed with overspill systems to contain a one in 300 year event.
• Seismic activity should be monitored and the well integrity checked after significant seismic activity.
• The cause of one magnitude 4.7 earthquake in Arkansas is not fully understood, and research should be undertaken into whether waste water back into the well should be permitted. Induced seismic activity should be investigated further.
• It is IGEM's view that Standards in the UK and in Europe are urgently needed to standardise the hydraulic fracturing processes, as well as any other new technology, to prevent environmentally damaging or dangerous practices from occuring in the UK.
• It is necessary that the industry benefit from technical and technological experience in the US, such as green completion methods.
• IGEM believes Shale Gas may not be a "Game Changer", but can be a safe and useful contributor to the UK energy mix and will improve gas security in this country.