Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the effect of depth limits for hydraulic fracturing on (a) fugitive emissions and (b) safety.

The risks of each project involving hydraulic fracturing can only be assessed in the light of the specific circumstances, including the geological and hydrogeological context. The risk of fugitive emissions and the safety aspects are assessed by expert regulators on a case-by-case basis as part of the environmental permitting and Health and Safety procedures.

The UK has decades of experience in safely conducting surface activities and constructing onshore gas wells, regulated by the Health & Safety Executive, and techniques to reduce emissions (“green completions”) have been made a requirement of environmental permits for shale gas production.