In previous articles we were seeing that it was the fracking. It is a gas and oil extraction technique to carry out this technique, pressure was used on some soil material where it is to be extracted. This serves to utilize the fractures already within the rock and to release existing natural gas or oil. Today we focus on the fracking in Spain. How fracking has developed during these years and how it has evolved at all times. Why has fracking stopped being used?
In this article we will tell you all about fracking in Spain.
Consequences of fracking
The problem with fracking is that it is a technique that destroys many areas of the planet. The environmental impact is high as some natural gas reserves are almost inaccessible. There are numerous studies that reveal the negative impacts that fracking has on the environment. It damages both the flora, fauna, water, soil and also the health of people. This is because various types of chemicals are used to break up and thin the rock. Once these chemicals have been used, the aquifers and the land end up contaminated. For this reason, this technique of extraction of natural gas and oil has always been very controversial.
It is no longer only the pollution that this technique produces but also the greenhouse gases that are discharged into the atmosphere, among which methane gas stands out. This gas is the most harmful to the atmosphere since it has more greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide itself. There are also other chemicals that are used such as benzene and lead that have been classified as carcinogenic.
We are going to analyze how the fracking panorama in Spain has evolved. From the beginning of its exploitation and use as a natural resource until its decline.
Fracking in Spain
At the beginning of using this technique, there were five companies that put the meat on the grill on the subsoil of Spain. This started in early 2010. This technique promised that all natural gas could reduce Spain's dependence on hydrocarbons from other countries, making us totally independent from them. From the energy point of view it was something quite feasible and this movement was joined by mayors and autonomies. However, low prices have derailed all extraction plans. The five companies mentioned above have given up on fracking.
This natural gas extraction technique was an energy revolution in the United States. Spanish companies said that the natural gas revolution could also come here. This is due to the fact that in the subsoil of Spain, mainly that of the Basque Cantabrian Basin, there are natural gas reserves that are equivalent to almost 70 years of all current national consumption. These data come from a 2013 report that was prepared by the Spanish Association of Companies for Research, Exploration and Production of Hydrocarbons and Underground Storage. This report indicated that in the Spanish subsoil there were more than 700 million euros in natural gas. Obviously, this amount of money made the aforementioned companies rethink to promote the extraction of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing.
This extraction technique is demonized by environmental groups. The environmental impacts produced by fracking are too high and damage the entire territory where the materials are extracted.
5 companies
The five companies that led the fracking movement in Spain formed a group called Shale Gas Spain. All these companies have already renounced this technique in our country. The last company is a public company that depends on the Basque government. At the end of February is when the hydrocarbon research permits that had been granted were suspended.
At present we have few permits that serve to extract natural gas from this hydraulic fracturing technique. Most of the permits are mostly concentrated in Cantabria. It is in this autonomous community where the energy ministry is the one that, except in a few exceptions, gave the green light for extraction projects. Now, at present, it is the constitutional court that makes the autonomous communities have the ability to reject or affect a fracking project.
Although environmental messages have reached scale in society, It is not the main reason why fracking has been reduced in Spain. The main reason this technique has been discontinued is because of the low price of oil today. In other words, in the future, whether the price of oil may increase, it is possible that this situation could be reversed and become active again. The pressure exerted by environmental groups is not enough to stop this movement. However, it should be noted that the environmental impacts caused by this natural gas extraction technique exceed natural limits. In this way, it not only damages the environment, but also damages humans.
Therefore, these should be the reasons to eliminate fracking in Spain. In this aspect, politics and the gain of votes by the autonomous communities also play a fundamental role.
The dark side of fracking
As we know, this technique has been criticized in many respects. One of the most controversial is causing small earthquakes. In some places in the United States where there have been higher rates of small earthquakes, it has been in those places where there have been more extractions due to hydraulic fracturing. Places like Texas or Ohio where there are hardly any risks of seismic movements, there have been hundreds of low intensity tremors.
Another aspect is the contamination produced by this technique. Water is a very valuable resource and during the process, both the groundwater and that used to dissolve the extraction chemicals are contaminated. Certain hits are not managed correctly the damage can be much higher.
As you can see, fracking in Spain is quite controversial. Hopefully it won't boom again even if oil prices rise. The extraction of natural gas is not compensated for by the damage caused by this technique. I hope that with this information you can learn more about this topic.