It follows from the tests carried out upon the request of the Minister of Environment by the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences that the shale gas exploratory works which are carried out in the Pomerania have no influence on seismic phenomena. “In consequence, they do not cause any threat of earthquake,” explains to “Rz” the Chief National Geologist, Henryk Jacek Jezierski.
The Ministry of Environment contracted the tests of the fracturing process on the license area Lebień. The process involves rock crushing in order to release gas which enables the assessment of the deposit volume. But it turned out that microshocks which are generated in this process are not dangerous; only specialised, highly sensitive measurement equipment may register them and they are not dangerous.
As Professor Aleksander Guterch with the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences explains Poland belongs to aseismic areas, inactive in terms of earth movements, that is why the danger of tremors during the drilling work is scarce.
Minister Jezierski convinces that the subsequent explorations of the shale deposits will also be monitored.” “In addition to the seismic risk, earlier we have also checked the work performed by PGNiG from the perspective of the compliance with the procedures and site development after the fracturing,” says to "Rz" Minister Jezierski. “Tests carried out so far did not confirm any adverse impact of the explorations on the environment. Therefore any stoppage or prohibition of such work is out of the question.
The Ministry of Environment also has data on the composition of the fluid which is used by exploratory companies for their works. “If the fracturing is made properly, the fluid with chemicals will not seep into the soil and is not dangerous to the environment or people,” adds the Minister. (…)
Source: Rzeczpospolita B, page no.: 1, 2011-08-30, by: a.ła.