Public Health and Shale Gas Extraction: a Canadian perspective

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development in western Canada is an important part of the economy . The number of new shale gas wells has exceeded conventional oil and gas development, in part due to external forces such as... [ view full abstract ]

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development in western Canada is an important part of the economy . The number of new shale gas wells has exceeded conventional oil and gas development, in part due to external forces such as oil prices and advances in hydraulic fracturing technologies that allow for greater natural gas yields. As the UOG industry expands, so too have concerns regarding the health of workers and communities around wells. Unique to western Canada has been the increased monitoring of seismic activity attributed particularly to hydraulic fracturing activities. As of January 2016, Canada has reported the largest seismic event ever associated with this technique, in part a function of the technologies being used and the geology from which the shale gas is being extracted. Drawing from literature reviews and interviews with key stakeholders, this presentation provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise from shale gas extraction and explores in more detail the seismic monitoring systems and results that are emerging from the Canadian research. The presentation concludes with a review of how seismic impacts associated with UOG issues are being communicated to public health practitioners, communities near well sites and the general public.