Dr. Avner Vengosh (Duke University)
Production from unconventional natural gas reservoirs has substantially expanded in the US through the advent of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing. These technological advances have opened vast new energy sources, such as low-permeability organic-rich shale formations and 'tight-sand' reservoirs, altering the domestic energy landscape in the US. Despite the large resource potentials and economic benefits, the rapid expansion of shale gas development in the US has triggered an intense public debate over the environmental and human health implications of unconventional energy development. This presentation provides an overview and synopsis of recent investigations into one set of possible environmental impacts from unconventional shale gas development in the US, in particular, the potential risks to water resources.