the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald Basins, UK
Abstract. North American shale basins differ from their European counterparts in that the latter are one to two orders of magnitude smaller in area, but correspondingly thicker, and are cut or bounded by normal faults penetrating from the shale to the surface. There is thus an inherent risk of groundwater resource contamination via these faults during or after unconventional resource appraisal and development. US shale exploration experience cannot simply be transferred to the UK. The Bowland Basin, with 1900 m of Lower Carboniferous shale, is in the vanguard of UK shale gas development. A vertical appraisal well to test the shale by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), the first such in the UK, triggered earthquakes. Re-interpretation of the 3D seismic reflection data, and independently the well casing deformation data, both show that the well was drilled through the earthquake fault, and did not avoid it, as concluded by the exploration operator. Faulting in this thick shale is evidently difficult to recognise. The Weald Basin is a shallower Upper Jurassic unconventional oil play with stratigraphic similarities to the Bakken play of the Williston Basin, USA. Two Weald licensees have drilled, or have applied to drill, horizontal appraisal wells based on inadequate 2D seismic reflection data coverage. I show, using the data from the one horizontal well drilled to date, that one operator failed identify two small but significant through-going normal faults. The other operator portrayed a seismic line as an example of fault-free structure, but faulting had been smeared out by reprocessing. The case histories presented show that: (1) UK shale exploration to date is characterised by a low degree of technical competence, and (2) regulation, which is divided between four separate authorities, is not up to the task. If UK shale is to be exploited safely: (1) more sophisticated seismic imaging methods need to be developed and applied to both basins, to identify faults in shale with throws as small as 4–5 m, and (2) the current lax and inadequate regulatory regime must be overhauled, unified, and tightened up.
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SC2: 'Comment on “Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald basins, UK” by D.K. Smythe', Rob Westaway, 05 Feb 2016
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AC9: 'Interim reply to Dr Westaway', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
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SC18: 'More rhetoric rather than substance', Rob Westaway, 01 Apr 2016
- AC11: 'Regrettable re-insertion of citation of a tabloid press article', David Smythe, 01 Apr 2016
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SC18: 'More rhetoric rather than substance', Rob Westaway, 01 Apr 2016
-
AC9: 'Interim reply to Dr Westaway', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- EC1: 'EC on SC2', Federico Rossetti, 09 Feb 2016
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SC4: 'Advocacy-Based Science', Terry Engelder, 16 Feb 2016
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AC2: 'Conjecture and refutation; author's response to Dr Engelder', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
- SC13: 'In a tangle over philosophy of science', Rob Westaway, 28 Mar 2016
- SC14: 'In a tangle over philosophy of science - ii', Rob Westaway, 29 Mar 2016
- AC3: 'Water well contamination case history: Bradford County, Pennsylvania', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
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AC2: 'Conjecture and refutation; author's response to Dr Engelder', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
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SC6: 'TYPOS CORRECTED SC5: 'Erroneous assumptions lead to fundamentally flawed hydrogeological conclusions'', Paul L. Younger, 18 Feb 2016
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AC8: 'Reply to Professor Paul Younger', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
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SC20: 'Rejoinder to Smythe's response on hydrogeological issues', Paul L. Younger, 14 Apr 2016
- AC12: 'Response to Professor Younger (SC20) and Professor Aplin (RC1) on Fylde groundwater salinity', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
- AC14: 'Response to Professor Paul Younger (SC20) on faulted limestone systems', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
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SC20: 'Rejoinder to Smythe's response on hydrogeological issues', Paul L. Younger, 14 Apr 2016
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AC8: 'Reply to Professor Paul Younger', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- EC2: 'removal of SC3 and SC5', Federico Rossetti, 19 Feb 2016
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SC7: 'This paper shows a poor understanding of the hydraulic fracturing process', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
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SC8: 'Correcting formatting issues in Verdon comment SC7', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
- AC7: 'Reply to Dr James Verdon', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
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SC8: 'Correcting formatting issues in Verdon comment SC7', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
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SC9: 'Reply to “Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald Basins, UK”', Huw Clarke, 02 Mar 2016
- AC5: 'Reply to Huw Clarke of Cuadrilla Resources Ltd', David Smythe, 24 Mar 2016
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SC10: 'Some additional thoughts on Preese Hall', Rob Westaway, 04 Mar 2016
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AC1: 'Failure by Dr Westaway to incorporate well data released in April 2015', David Smythe, 05 Mar 2016
- SC12: 'Diversity of stratigraphic interpretations for the Preese Hall-1 well and surroundings', Rob Westaway, 10 Mar 2016
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AC1: 'Failure by Dr Westaway to incorporate well data released in April 2015', David Smythe, 05 Mar 2016
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SC11: 'Misunderstanding of the Literature and Expanding the Discussion of Fracturing Fluid Migration Modeling', Daniel Birdsell, 04 Mar 2016
- AC4: 'Response to Daniel Birdsell and co-authors', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
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RC1: 'Smythe se-2015-134 Review', Andrew Aplin, 29 Mar 2016
- AC10: 'Reply to review by Professor Aplin', David Smythe, 01 Apr 2016
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SC15: 'Comment on use of data and figures in Smythe paper', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
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SC16: 'Clarification of Affiliation', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
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AC6: 'Thanks for new PH-1 image data; faulting on 3D seismic not ambiguous; nothing missing from Balcombe logs', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- SC17: 'Preese Hall-1 bedding dip', Rob Westaway, 31 Mar 2016
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AC6: 'Thanks for new PH-1 image data; faulting on 3D seismic not ambiguous; nothing missing from Balcombe logs', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
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SC16: 'Clarification of Affiliation', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
- EC3: 'regarding SC18 and AC11', Federico Rossetti, 02 Apr 2016
- SC19: 'About SC18', Fabrizio Storti, 04 Apr 2016
- RC2: 'Review', Stuart Haszeldine, 15 Apr 2016
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RC3: 'Review of Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald Basins, UK', Anonymous Referee #3, 10 May 2016
- AC13: 'Reply to anonymous referee RC3', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
- RC4: 'review', Anonymous Referee #4, 12 May 2016
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EC4: 'decision on SE Discussion paper', Federico Rossetti, 14 May 2016
- AC15: 'Final author comments', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
-
SC2: 'Comment on “Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald basins, UK” by D.K. Smythe', Rob Westaway, 05 Feb 2016
-
AC9: 'Interim reply to Dr Westaway', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
-
SC18: 'More rhetoric rather than substance', Rob Westaway, 01 Apr 2016
- AC11: 'Regrettable re-insertion of citation of a tabloid press article', David Smythe, 01 Apr 2016
-
SC18: 'More rhetoric rather than substance', Rob Westaway, 01 Apr 2016
-
AC9: 'Interim reply to Dr Westaway', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- EC1: 'EC on SC2', Federico Rossetti, 09 Feb 2016
-
SC4: 'Advocacy-Based Science', Terry Engelder, 16 Feb 2016
-
AC2: 'Conjecture and refutation; author's response to Dr Engelder', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
- SC13: 'In a tangle over philosophy of science', Rob Westaway, 28 Mar 2016
- SC14: 'In a tangle over philosophy of science - ii', Rob Westaway, 29 Mar 2016
- AC3: 'Water well contamination case history: Bradford County, Pennsylvania', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
-
AC2: 'Conjecture and refutation; author's response to Dr Engelder', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
-
SC6: 'TYPOS CORRECTED SC5: 'Erroneous assumptions lead to fundamentally flawed hydrogeological conclusions'', Paul L. Younger, 18 Feb 2016
-
AC8: 'Reply to Professor Paul Younger', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
-
SC20: 'Rejoinder to Smythe's response on hydrogeological issues', Paul L. Younger, 14 Apr 2016
- AC12: 'Response to Professor Younger (SC20) and Professor Aplin (RC1) on Fylde groundwater salinity', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
- AC14: 'Response to Professor Paul Younger (SC20) on faulted limestone systems', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
-
SC20: 'Rejoinder to Smythe's response on hydrogeological issues', Paul L. Younger, 14 Apr 2016
-
AC8: 'Reply to Professor Paul Younger', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- EC2: 'removal of SC3 and SC5', Federico Rossetti, 19 Feb 2016
-
SC7: 'This paper shows a poor understanding of the hydraulic fracturing process', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
-
SC8: 'Correcting formatting issues in Verdon comment SC7', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
- AC7: 'Reply to Dr James Verdon', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
-
SC8: 'Correcting formatting issues in Verdon comment SC7', James Verdon, 19 Feb 2016
-
SC9: 'Reply to “Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald Basins, UK”', Huw Clarke, 02 Mar 2016
- AC5: 'Reply to Huw Clarke of Cuadrilla Resources Ltd', David Smythe, 24 Mar 2016
-
SC10: 'Some additional thoughts on Preese Hall', Rob Westaway, 04 Mar 2016
-
AC1: 'Failure by Dr Westaway to incorporate well data released in April 2015', David Smythe, 05 Mar 2016
- SC12: 'Diversity of stratigraphic interpretations for the Preese Hall-1 well and surroundings', Rob Westaway, 10 Mar 2016
-
AC1: 'Failure by Dr Westaway to incorporate well data released in April 2015', David Smythe, 05 Mar 2016
-
SC11: 'Misunderstanding of the Literature and Expanding the Discussion of Fracturing Fluid Migration Modeling', Daniel Birdsell, 04 Mar 2016
- AC4: 'Response to Daniel Birdsell and co-authors', David Smythe, 22 Mar 2016
-
RC1: 'Smythe se-2015-134 Review', Andrew Aplin, 29 Mar 2016
- AC10: 'Reply to review by Professor Aplin', David Smythe, 01 Apr 2016
-
SC15: 'Comment on use of data and figures in Smythe paper', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
-
SC16: 'Clarification of Affiliation', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
-
AC6: 'Thanks for new PH-1 image data; faulting on 3D seismic not ambiguous; nothing missing from Balcombe logs', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
- SC17: 'Preese Hall-1 bedding dip', Rob Westaway, 31 Mar 2016
-
AC6: 'Thanks for new PH-1 image data; faulting on 3D seismic not ambiguous; nothing missing from Balcombe logs', David Smythe, 31 Mar 2016
-
SC16: 'Clarification of Affiliation', Andrew Kingdon, 29 Mar 2016
- EC3: 'regarding SC18 and AC11', Federico Rossetti, 02 Apr 2016
- SC19: 'About SC18', Fabrizio Storti, 04 Apr 2016
- RC2: 'Review', Stuart Haszeldine, 15 Apr 2016
-
RC3: 'Review of Hydraulic fracturing in thick shale basins: problems in identifying faults in the Bowland and Weald Basins, UK', Anonymous Referee #3, 10 May 2016
- AC13: 'Reply to anonymous referee RC3', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
- RC4: 'review', Anonymous Referee #4, 12 May 2016
-
EC4: 'decision on SE Discussion paper', Federico Rossetti, 14 May 2016
- AC15: 'Final author comments', David Smythe, 07 Jun 2016
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