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Strategic Issues and Fracking in New Zealand - Report Overview

This report discusses the strategic issues facing New Zealand, with a focus on fracking. It evaluates the environmental impacts of fracking and explores the risks and management of this practice. The report also addresses climate change and the role of fracking in relation to coal and renewable energy.

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Strategic Issues and Fracking in New Zealand - Report Overview

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  1. Dr Jan Wright Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Strategic issues facing New Zealand and overview of report on fracking 10 December 2012 1

  2. www.pce.parliament.nz 2

  3. The big strategic issue – climate Energy… Renewability is not the issue. Carbon footprint is the issue.

  4. Investigations into energy Smart meters Biofuels Lignite Hydroelectricity or wild rivers? Solar water heating Fracking

  5. The strategic issue for conservation • Mining on the conservation estate? • Pests – plants and animals

  6. Pests - the big conservation issue

  7. Water quality 7

  8. Evaluating the environmental impacts of fracking in New Zealand:Aninterim report

  9. What is fracking? Hydraulic fracturing Using pressurised liquid to crack rock 9

  10. Porous and permeable Porous, but not permeable

  11. Rock Layer Fresh water Rock Layer Salty water Rock Layer Gas, oil and brine 11

  12. Fracking in New Zealand • Tight sands in Taranaki • Coal seam gas • Shale in east of the North Island

  13. A well from birth to death • Choosing where to drill • Establishing the well site • Drilling and constructing the well • Fracking the well • Flowback and transition into production • Dealing with waste • Abandonment

  14. Choosing where to drill

  15. Establishing the well site

  16. Drilling and constructing the well

  17. Fracking the well

  18. Flowback and transition to production

  19. Disposing of waste

  20. Ending production and abandoning the well

  21. A well from birth to death Choosing where to drill Establishing the well site Drilling and constructing the well Fracking the well Flowback and transition into production Dealing with waste Abandonment

  22. Earthquakes • Fracking itself – tiny • Fracking fluid into active fault • Reinjected wastewater into active fault

  23. Water contamination • Spills and leaks on surface • Well failure • Migration

  24. Four things to get right • Choose the well site carefully • Design and construct wells to prevent leaks • Prevent spills and leaks on the surface • Store and dispose of waste with care

  25. 1 Watch where you drill Active faults 25

  26. 2 Well integrity Rock Layer Fresh water Rock Layer Salty water Rock Layer Gas, oil and brine 26

  27. 3 Spills & leaks on the surface 27

  28. 4 Disposing of waste 28

  29. Fracking and climate change? Is gas from fracking a bridge to a low carbon future? On the one hand – better than coal On the other hand – worse than renewables

  30. Fracking better than coal

  31. Lignite and NZ’s Copenhagen commitment

  32. Lignite and NZ’s Copenhagen commitment

  33. Fracking worse than renewables

  34. More gas use?

  35. Government oversight and regulation • Complexity and accountability • ‘Light-handed’ regulation • A ‘social licence’ to operate 35

  36. Interim conclusion The environmental risks associated with fracking can be managed effectively provided: “operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation” UK Royal Society (2012) 36

  37. Questions about the future 37

  38. Thank you www.pce.parliament.nz 38

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