Term
| What type of energy source is shale gas? |
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Definition
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Term
| How many cubic metres of shale gas may be present in the world, and how many years of usage is this equivalent to? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which country has the larges proven reserves of shale gas? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which country has the largest technically recoverable reserves of shale gas? |
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Definition
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Term
| Where and when was China's first shale gas well dug? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is China's shale gas production target for 2020? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is China's 2020 shale gas production target unlikely to be met? |
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Definition
| High population density, water availability is 20% of US, not a lot of pipeline infrastructure |
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Term
| What is the USA's shale gas production target for 2035? |
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Definition
| Shale gas will be 50% of all gas production |
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Term
| Is the USA's gas supply likely to be self-sufficient using shale gas? |
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Definition
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Term
| From 2050, how long is the USA's gas security expected to last if shale gas is exploited? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which country has the most shale gas supplies in Europe? |
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Definition
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Term
| At current usage rates, how long is Poland's shale gas supply expected to last? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is Poland not currently exploiting its shale gas reserves? |
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Definition
| Its economy is currently coal-based |
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Term
| Why is France unlikely to exploit its shale gas supplies? |
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Definition
| It wants to focus more on developing nuclear power |
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Term
| Where could shale gas be exploited in the UK? |
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Definition
| Lanarkshire, central Scotland; Northern Ireland; Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales; the Mendips; Lancashire |
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Term
| How long could the UK's shale gas supplies last? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why could shale gas be important to the UK's energy supplies? |
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Definition
| It would top up the North Sea gas supplies, which will eventually run out. |
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Term
| Which other countries also have supplies of shale gas? |
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Definition
| Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Australia |
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Term
| How large are fracking sites |
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Definition
| About 1 hectare, which is small compared to nuclear power plants and open mines |
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Term
| What is "fracking" short for? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A 10,000ft well is dug, and a mixture of sand, water, and chemicals is pumped into it, creating fissures in the shale, and allowing the gas to escape |
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Term
| How long does it take before gas starts to flow up the well to the surface? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why must the first 1,000 feet of the well be sealed with cement? |
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Definition
| So gas does not contaminate groundwater |
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Term
| Which Oscar-winning documentary investigated fracking in the USA? |
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Definition
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Term
| What was the cause of water contaminations related to fracking? |
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Definition
| Flawed cement used to seal the well. |
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Term
| How did some states deal with the issue of water contamination? |
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Definition
| Construction of gas wells is more tightly regulated |
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Term
| What is the main risk to water supplies caused by fracking? |
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Definition
| Naturally-occurring methane could seep into water supplies, but this can occur without fracking |
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Term
| Which act is fracking excluded from? |
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Definition
| The Safe Drinking Water Act |
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Term
| What did the New York Times report was happening to radioactive wastewater? |
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Definition
| It was taken to treatment plates that were unable to remove the carcinogens |
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Term
| What is an example of an American town which has benefited from shale gas? |
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Definition
| Towanda, Pennsylvania. Had been suffering rural depopulation, but shale gas exploration led to an economic boom due to in-migration. Unemployment fell below 3%. |
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Term
| How has the falling price of natural gas damaged the American coal industry? |
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Definition
| Coal was 57% of all American power generated in 1985, but down to 40% in 2012. Appalachian coal prices down 25%, Powder River in Wyoming prices down 50%. Mines are laying off workers. |
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Term
| Why do some environmentalists push for more fracking, even though shale gas is a fossil fuel? |
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Definition
| It can be used as a substitute for coal and emits about 50% less greenhouse gas. |
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Term
| How are American demands for power expected to rise in the future? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two case studies for the impacts of fracking? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why will fracking present a challenge to nuclear power? |
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Definition
| Obama has pushed for more nuclear power stations, but not many have been built because of the Fukushima meltdown in 2011, and building nuclear power stations is expensive and slow. |
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Term
| Why will renewable energies find it difficult to compete with shale gas in the US? |
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Definition
| Currently only provide 3% of US power. Though solar and wind investment is growing by 30% per year, it is dependent on government support. |
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Term
| How have American natural gas prices fallen due to shale gas exploration? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why has fracking been slow to develop in the UK? |
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Definition
| There was a moratorium on fracking after earth tremors in the Blackpool district, which were found to be linked to fracking. |
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Term
| What are two arguments for fracking in the UK? |
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Definition
| Gas production in the North Sea is declining, so fracking would offset this. Fracking in Lancashire could provide around 2500 jobs. |
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Term
| What are the arguments against fracking in the UK? |
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Definition
| NIMBYism; profits will go to multi-national companies as state owns rights to minerals, so farmers less inclined to sell land; development will be slower as UK lacks onshore drilling industry |
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Term
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Definition
| "Ribble Estuary Against Fracking" and "Residential Action Against Fracking", anti-fracking protest groups in North Lancashire |
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Term
| What effect has shale exploration had on global gas reserves? |
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Definition
| Proven natural gas reserves have risen to 1.2 trillion barrels, or 60 years' supply. |
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Term
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Definition
| A fracturing fluid (mix of water, sand, and small amounts of chemicals) is pumped at high pressure down a pipe and into rock. The resulting fractures release natural gas. |
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Term
| How much water does fracking use? |
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Definition
| About 5 million gallons per frack, but depends on rock composition. |
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