The Ecological Influence of Shale Oil Extraction

About the authors:

Alexander Yu. Solodovnikov, Dr. Sci. (Geogr.), Associate Professor, Head of Scientific-Research Ecological Department, SurgutNIPIneft (Tyumen Branch); solodovnikov_au@surgutneftegas.ru

Dmitry A. Solodovnikov, Master Degree Student, Institute of Earth Sciences, Tyumen State University; solodovnikov-dmitriy@mail.ru

Abstract:

The article observes the ecological influence of shale oil extraction. Oil shales are located all-over the world and contain far more oil supplies than in traditional collectors. Nevertheless, their development is always accompanied by different technical difficulties and the influence on the environment during the whole process of the development. Shale oil is a difficult to extract resource. The development of oil fields with low collecting ability is determined by the fact that the traditional resources of the world are more and more exhausted year-by-year. To recharge the resource base, works are carried out to account the rock formations that previously were considered as unperspective. There are many of such hydrocarbons, but the greatest notability belongs to those that have shale oil in their composite.

The shale oil extraction greatly influences the environment due to its location in collectors with low capacity parameters. One of the methods of shale oil extraction is the hydrofracturing. Its main characteristics are high water and energy use with the accompanying of the great amounts of different chemicals that accumulate oil in a certain location and help it to dwell on the surface.

In the North American countries, where the shale oil extraction began, the governments realized its dangers in different ecological and population aspects. In many states of the USA and Canada, different ecological organizations allied with the locals in protecting their ecological rights. It would be useful for the Russians that live in oil extraction districts to know what may happen to them, when the industry of shale oil extraction comes to them.

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