The Fracking Debate in Europe - An Assessment of the History behind the European Bans on Hydraulic Fracturing

摘要

During a recent four-week AAPG Distinguished Lecture Tour in Europe, my most popular lecture was an analysis of the fracking debate; ?The Environmental Realities of Hydraulic Fracturing: Fact versus Fiction? - unsurprising considering the sensitivity to the prospect of shale gas exploration in much of Europe. My objective was to address the public fears that drove morato- ria and bans on fracking in places as different as New York, the UK, and France. Central causes of public fear in America were a combination of early mistakes by industry and purposeful disinformation from activists, especially those seeking to profit from such anxieties. This fear has now spread beyond America to places with nothing more than a modest gas industry experience.