Applying natural tracer technologies in the environmental monitoring of unconventional gas extraction

自然示踪技术在非常规天然气开采环境监测中的应用

基本信息

批准号：
NE/L008297/1
负责人：
Finlay Stuart
金额：
$ 6.14万
依托单位：
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2013
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2013 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FL008297%2F1
关键词：
Applying natural tracer technologies environmental

项目摘要

It is clear from recent media coverage that there is significant public concern surrounding the exploitation of unconventional gas resources (shale gas and coal bed methane) in the UK. Many of these concerns relate to potential methane contamination of drinking water supplies in shallow aquifers. Developing a comprehensive strategy for monitoring any unconventional gas extraction in the UK will be paramount in reassuring the public that the extraction is being undertaken in a responsible and safe manner. This regulation must be based on strong scientific principles which need to be established prior to widespread unconventional gas extraction taking place.This consortium project aims to use natural chemical components in groundwater and gases, to provide legally-defensible evidence in case of future allegations of methane contamination of groundwaters. This will be by obtaining chemical analyses of produced CBM and Shale Gas methane, shallow methane sources, and uncontaminated groundwater. Existing chemical analyses of baseline groundwater samples provide information on methane concentrations and the source of the water that the methane is contained in. However, they do not provide the unique fingerprint required to unequivocally determine the origin of methane.We will collect samples of shale gas, CBM and produced waters and undertake measurements of the C and H stable isotopes, radiocarbon (14C) and noble gases (He Ne Ar Kr Xe) in the produced gases. These will allow the CBM and Shale Gas to be distinguished from other gas sources and provide a clear "fingerprint" for assessing groundwater contamination. We will also collect samples of baseline groundwaters and measure methane concentrations, C stable isotopes in the Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), H and O stable isotopes to provide a simple low-cost screening. Should the methane gas content of these groundwaters be found to be above 2 milligrams per litre we will separate the methane gas and measure the H and C stable isotope signature. This will allow us to determine the separate origins of both the groundwater and of the methane (which may be shallow bacterial or deep thermal source).If sampling and analysis of groundwater during or after CBM or Shale Gas production shows that methane concentrations have increased, then analysis of the H, C, radiocarbon and noble gas components should be made on the groundwaters. This will allow the source of methane to be categorically resolved - is that methane of shallow bacterial origin, or from deep thermal sources which have previously been trapped at shallow depth, or is the increased methane an unambiguous addition of deep thermogenic methane from CBM or Shale Gas exploitation? The proposed laboratory which will be setup by this consortium, along with the extra facilities for noble gas and radiocarbon analysis which will be provided with the match funding secured from the Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh, will provide a greatly improved approach to high-quality assurance of environmental protection of groundwater. This facility will be unique in Europe and we will pursue application of the techniques at other European sites of unconventional gas extraction.Action needs to be taken now, before widespread Shale Gas and CBM exploration and production activities commence in the UK. There is currently a one-off opportunity to collect and analyse uncontaminated baseline samples. We will publicise this research programme publicised to show the care with which Shale Gas and CBM regulation is being undertaken in the UK. This will provide public reassurance that lessons have been learnt from the negative unconventional gas experiences encountered in the USA and Australia.

从最近的媒体报道中可以明显看出，在英国剥削非常规天然气资源（页岩气和煤层甲烷）的公众关注。这些问题中有许多涉及浅含水层中饮用水供应的潜在甲烷污染。在英国制定一项综合监测任何非常规气体提取的策略将至关重要，以使公众以负责任且安全的方式进行提取。该法规必须基于强大的科学原则，在发生广泛的非常规气体提取之前需要建立，该联盟项目旨在在地下水和气体中使用天然化学成分，以便在未来对地狱甲烷污染的指控的情况下提供合法的证据。这将是获得生产的CBM和页岩气，浅甲烷源以及未污染的地下水的化学分析。 Existing chemical analyses of baseline groundwater samples provide information on methane concentrations and the source of the water that the methane is contained in. However, they do not provide the unique fingerprint required to unequivocally determine the origin of methane.We will collect samples of shale gas, CBM and produced waters and undertake measurements of the C and H stable isotopes, radiocarbon (14C) and noble gases (He Ne Ar Kr XE）在产生的气体中。这些将使CBM和页岩气与其他气体源区分开，并提供明确的“指纹”来评估地下水污染。我们还将收集基线地下水的样品并测量甲烷浓度，C稳定的无机碳（DIC），H和O稳定的同位素的稳定同位素，以提供简单的低成本筛选。如果发现这些地下水的甲烷气体含量高于每升2毫克，我们将分离甲烷气体并测量H和C稳定的同位素特征。这将使我们能够确定地下水和甲烷的单独起源（这可能是浅细菌或深层热源）。这将使甲烷的来源能够被绝对解决 - 是浅细菌起源的甲烷，或者是从先前已被困在浅凹处的深层热源中，还是增加了甲烷增加的甲烷是从CBM或页岩气剥削中明确添加深的热甲烷？该财团将设置的拟议实验室以及额外的昂贵气体和放射性碳分析的设施，该设施将与苏格兰政府和爱丁堡大学获得的比赛资金一起提供，将为地下水保护环境保护的高质量保证提供极大的改进方法。该设施在欧洲将是独一无二的，我们将在其他非常规天然气提取的欧洲地点进行应用。现在需要采取行动，然后在英国开始广泛的页岩气和CBM勘探和生产活动之前。目前，有一次一次性的机会收集和分析未污染的基线样品。我们将公开该研究计划，以展示英国正在进行页岩气和CBM法规的护理。这将为公众保证，从美国和澳大利亚遇到的负面非常规的天然气体验中学到的课程。