Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo - Not Cool.

It's been well covered in the media since its first public appearance towards the end of January 2011. The controversial project that the Shell Exploration Company announced - the proposed South Western Karoo Basin Gas Exploration Project. This, in a nutshell, is a proposal to test for underground natural gas deposits in the Karoo. Several organizations, companies and individuals have raised concerns about the testing methods. These concerns have been shrugged off by Shell representatives, the question now is... Who's right?

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" is a method that uses the natural tendencies of a mineral and the way it responds to fluid strain. The process is complicated, but the bare basic principle behind it is they use a water based mixture to carve into a mineral deposit and extract the gas. Shale is a rock with a low permeability, so it requires fracturing to provide the level of permeability needed for commercially viable gas mining. In areas where the shale deposits are naturally fractured, mining is relatively simple and the global community has been doing it for years. Hydraulic fracturing has, according to the 1970 report by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, been used in industry since 1949. Hydraulic fracturing is a very new piece on the playing board. Even 'new-age' energy solutions are older. The first commercial, large scale hydro-electric power station that wasn't a prototype was built in 1895, a full 116 years ago. This puts hydraulic fracturing into the baby department of resource and energy management. The inherent long term flaws of hydraulic fracturing heven't been studied thouroughly yet because, as the above dates show, there hasn't been a long term yet.

Mr. Graham Tiley, General Manager for new ventures & international exploration at Shell, told media in Johannesburg on the 3rd of March that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "could find no evidence of a link between fracking and water contamination," which is true, but here's what he didn't say.

1) The relevant EPA study in 2004 was never intended as a general study. It was a study for use in coal bed gas deposits only, and only covered the deep underground water contamination issues. (A study which was restricted to one geographical area - the Karoo is a sensitive and very different area, relating it to American research is comparing apples with pears).

2) The EPA declared that the outcome of their studies on the effects of fracking showed "no unequivocal evidence" of health risks, but states clearly that further research is needed. (Coming from one of the most powerful countries in the world, if the EPA says further research is needed, it makes sense to listen).

3) The EPA recently declared a $1.9 million forthcoming study to review all previous assessments and collect new data for a conclusive report on the environmental and human safety of fracking. (That would be the equivalent to Golder Associates, the company doing the environmental impact assessments (EIA) for Shell, to have a R13 million EIA to be on a publicly acceptable standard).

4) One of the most controversial loopholes in the American constitution is the Halliburton loophole, which, according to the NY Times, effectively denies authority to the EPA to monitor and regulate hydraulic fracturing.

As the NY Times so splendidly puts it, "(The industry) also argues that the process is basically safe and that regulating it would deter domestic production. But if hydraulic fracturing is as safe as the industry says it is, why should it fear regulation?"

Shell chairperson, Bonong Mohale, said that this project would "reduce South Africa's dependence on coal generation and imported energy, while reducing the carbon footprint." Apart from the wording error (nobody can generate coal, we can only extract it.) there are a few questions raised by this statement. One fracking well costs roughly $15 million and Shell plans to drill 24 wells. The initial phase of the project will cost $360 million. Not to mention the costs involved if they find sufficient shale gas deposits and start considering the development of the area to process it. $360 million. According to moneyweb.co.za predictions, the dollar will trade at "just above R8/$ in the final quarter of 2012," - which is when Shell plans to start drilling. Let us say R8.00 to the dollar. That gives us R2 880 000 000.00. Nearly R3 Billion. Imagine a 3 billion Rand project for a renewable energy solution. South Africa is listed as the country with the 14th highest carbon footprint in the world, which is certainly not something to be proud of. It's great if Mohale has the country's environmental interests at heart, but the focus should be on finding a renewable energy source. Of our 30 operational power stations, 1 uses nuclear power and only 6 are using renewable energy solutions. Another factor is size. The proposed project will cover 90 000km², imagine what potential 90 000 square kilometres has as a solar panel array to provide power, lowering our electricity needs and therefore allowing more financial play to facilitate fuel needs.

In April 2010 Pennsylvania banned Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. from drilling. This ban will continue across the whole state until the company agrees to shut down wells that are believed to be linked to several health and safety concerns including drinking water contamination. An investigation was implemented following the explosion of a water well on a site. The investigation concluded that Cabot Oil & Gas Corp had unwittingly leaked combustible methane gas into the region's supply of groundwater. This highlights that when things do go wrong, the damage is severe and extensive. Another example happened on the 3rd of June 2010 in the same state, this time the well blew nearly 16 000L of hydraulic fracturing fluids into the air. The fluids settled on inhabited areas as well as forested land. The blow out lasted for 16 hours.

Other events believed to be linked to hydraulic fracturing are examples of earthquakes in Cleburne, Texas. According to an article on the 9th of June 2010, the first recorded tremors in the town's 140 year history happened only after hydraulic fracturing operations started in the area. This makes sense because shale will naturally fracture over a very long time. Hydraulic fracturing speeds up a process which could take several centuries in nature. France has placed a national ban stating that "no authorizations for shale gas exploration will be given, or even considered, before the commission reports". The final reports are expected to be released in June 2011. Buffalo City, New York, has also declared a ban on fracking until further notice.

According to the acclaimed documentary, Gasland, other health concerns that have been identified are the presence of toxins, carcinogenics and heavy metals in the fracturing fluids. The fracturing fluid is, according to a 2008 report by ALL Consulting, made up of 90.6% water, 8.95% proppant (usually sanitized, de-dusted sand) and 0.44% other chemical additives. 0.44% may not sound like much, but put into context the figures become alarming. Hydraulicfracturing.com states that the hydraulic fracturing process uses on average 4.5 million gallons per well. This is, as stated, an average, because there are several factors that prevent one such as myself from making an accurate estimate. 4.5 million gallons means roughly 20 million litres per well, 24 wells, that's 490 million litres. Three things jump to mind.

Firstly, 0.44% seems a petty figure when compared to those ranging into the 90% bracket. Put into perspective, however, it becomes a lot more startling - hydraulic fracturing will pump more than 2.1 million litres of chemical cocktail into the ground.

Secondly, how will Shell get this water? Their background document states "...sea water, surface water, and deep saline aquifers." I cannot see that any of these options are environmentally suitable, economically viable, or indeed, realistic at all.

Thirdly, fuel is a far less essential commodity than water. That is 490 million litres of water that could rather be extracted and prepared for drinking water. The Eastern Cape coastal region is experiencing a terrible drought at the present time, and they're not alone. I'm sure most, if not all areas in South Africa (or Africa) can find more constructive uses for that water.

Another worrying factor is that the project area will overlap that of the acclaimed astronomical project - the SKA, or Square Kilometre Array, a phenomenal piece of science and technology which, when rigged, will change astronomy forever. The individuals, companies and organizations involved in setting up the SKA have been investigating and researching whether South Africa or Australia will be better suited for the state-of-the-art radio telescope. Although Shell chairperson, Bonong Mohale, maintains that Shell's activities "will have no impact on the Square Array Project," planting a mining exploration project using questionable and controversial methods on the place the SKA team are considering is nothing short of an insult. The SKA telescope project will put South Africa on the astronomical map again. Apart from that, hydraulic fracturing has been linked to explosions and blow-outs which, if they were to happen around the SKA, would cause significant damage to it. The governing bodies behind the SKA are sure to take this into account and it would be a shame to lose our place in scientific and technological history due to the Shell project and hydraulic fracturing.

Any project that raises as much controversy and in some instances, outrage, is missing the plot somewhere, either in their methods, or in their manner of address to the public. The environment includes us as people, and as people we should raise our concerns. The companies involved with this project should be able justify their plans and explain them in a manner that is understandable and accessible to everyone, because it affects everyone.

While sourcing from online media releases, the question was repeated by several members of the general public about why Shell is doing this and not Sasol, which is a fair question. However, in my opinion, nobody should be doing this... At least not soon.

As a 21 year old citizen of this country I have the responsibility to question these issues and the right to expect honest, upfront and pertinent answers.