In the gas fields of northern Germany, formation fluid is carried via a network of underground pipes to a disposal reservoir. It’s a closed loop system. In spite of that, an alleged cancer cluster in the rural communities located above these pipelines prompted soil testing which found impressively high levels of benzene. The pipes are made of heavy duty plastic and do not appear to be corroding or leaking. The tentative explanation is that benzene and other hydrocarbons are actually diffusing through the plastic pipe itself. Read more ...

"Carry on fracking, but dont scare the public too much" seems to be the conclusion of the DECC report on the seismic activity, caused by Caudrilla's fracking at the Preese Hall site at Weeton. News and reaction to the report has been aired across both local and national media today. REAF members went out live on Sky News from a cold and windy field close to the Banks Marsh site with reaction and comment, highlighting the fact that seismic activity is not the only concern and how the report is short on detail relating to regulation and monitoring. And whilst the media seem to be focusing on earthquakes, anti-fracking groups are keen to point out that there are multiple points of risk associated with the process and the seismic activity is at best a distraction from the real issues surrounding this dirty and invasive industry.

http://frack-off.org.uk/press-release-activists-denounce-earthquake-report-as-dangerous-distraction/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/17/gas-fracking-gets-green-light
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17726538
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16210085

Ed: You now have the opportunity to respond to DECC's report and are urged to do so as soon as possible. All comment must be submitted by 25th of May.

http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/explorationpro/onshore/cuadrilla_decc/cuadrilla_decc.aspx

A new journal article finds that methane leakage greatly undercuts or eliminates entirely the climate benefit of a switch to natural gas. The authors of “Greater Focus Needed on Methane Leakage from Natural Gas Infrastructure“ conclude that “it appears that current leakage rates are higher than previously thought” and “Reductions in CH4 Leakage Are Needed to Maximize the Climate Benefits of Natural Gas.” ~ Read more...

It seems that the North West has more than its fair share of frackers to contend with as another operator looks to frack for shale gas in Cheshire. See the following report from Frack-Off for more info!

http://frack-off.org.uk/igas-energy-%e2%80%93-englands-third-fracking-company/

Work has started on the latest phase of Lancashire’s ‘fracking’ revolution. Huge wagons carrying testing equipment yesterday started to carry out geo-physical checks on farmland at Singleton, near Poulton-le-Fylde to start checks on the depth of shale rock under the countryside. Read more...

Caudrilla have been lying fairly low on the PR front recently declining interviews for BBC Newsnight, an offer they would have jumped at last year, as well as declining to attend an indpendent Q & A organised by RAFF and FOE at St Anne's last week. Surprising then that Mark Miller turned up to make what is described as a 'donation' to Fylde Borough councillors at Wheeton Village Hall. Read more...

Europe’s best hope for a shale-gas boom is fading as explorers in Poland confront rising taxes, a lack of rigs and rocks that are harder to drill than expected. While shale could help Poland lessen dependence on Russian supplies and cut its gas bill, a government proposal for a levy on production threatens to curtail investment. Failed wells by Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) curbed the optimism that led two dozen companies to grab licenses. The government said last week that shale-gas reserves may be lower than estimated, and drilling a well costs almost three times as much as in the U.S. Continue reading...