There is little danger that the technique used to produce shale gas, which is known as hydraulic fracturing, could contaminate ground water provided wells are sufficiently deep, according to a research report published by the U.K.’s Durham University Wednesday.
This conclusion is the second piece of good news in a week for the U.K.’s nascent shale gas industry, which has struggled to overcome public fears about its environmental safety. A report published by the U.K. government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change last week said hydraulic fracturing could safely resume in the U.K., despite having caused earth tremors in the north of England last year.
