Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the volume of water required in shale gas extraction for (a) a single hydraulic fracture and (b) over the course of a well's lifetime.

The recent Strategic Environmental Assessment for further onshore oil and gas licencing, carried out by AMEC on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change, estimated that between 10,000 and 25,000 cubic metres of water would be required for hydraulic fracturing of each well and it is predicted that each well might be re-fractured once during its lifetime.

In this context, Water UK, which represents the water industry, and UK Onshore Operators Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which ensures their respective members will cooperate throughout the shale gas exploration and extraction process in order to minimise adverse effects on water resources and the environment.