Life Cycle Assessment of a shale gas exploration and exploitation project in the province of Burgos, Spain

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Belmira Neto (Author) FEUP; Daniele Costa (Author) Other; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP; Anthony Steven Danko (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 645

Pages: 130-145

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 5 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Environmental science

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-149

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.085

Abstract (EN): Natural gas (NG) fromshale formations (or shale gas) is an unconventional energy resource whose potential environmental impacts are still not adequately assessed. Hence, this study performs a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of shale gas considering a gas well under appraisal in Burgos, Spain. An attributionalmodel was developed, considering the NG pre- production and production phases in the system boundaries, considering 1 MJ of processed NG as a functional unit. Results were obtained through the CML- IA baseline method (developed by the Center of Environmental Science of Leiden University) and showed that well design, drilling and casing, hydraulic fracturing, NG production, gathering, and processing are critical processes. To better address the environmental impacts, a comparison with similar studieswas carried out, aswell as a sensitivity and an uncertainty analysis usingMonte Carlo simulation (MCS). The modelwas found to be particularly sensitive to water usage in hydraulic fracturing and to the number of workovers with hydraulic fracturing. Limited data availability for shale gas exploration still poses a challenge for an accurate LCA. Even though shale gas remains controversial, it still can be considered as a strategic energy resource, requiring a precautionary approach when considering its exploitation and exploration.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16