Page 8 - Euroil Week 34 2019

EurOil COMMENTARY EurOil
from an OGA study.
“Shale gas could be an important new domes-
tic energy source, reducing the level of gas imports while delivering broad economic bene- ts, including through the creation of well-paid, quality jobs,” a spokesperson said. “It could also support our transition to net zero emissions by 2050.”
e show of support for shale gas follows UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government reshu e last month. Business Secretary Greg Clark was replaced by Andrea Leadsom, a vocal supporter of shale gas who has described it in the past as a “great opportunity”.
But the latest tremor, only slightly weaker than the 3ML potential seismic event Cuadrila itself said would represent “a worst-case sce- nario” in 2011, could deter the government from openly adopting a more pro-shale stance.
Advocates argue that by restricting shale gas development, the UK will merely increase its reliance on gas imports, some of which is pro- duced in the US using the very same uncon- ventional techniques. e UK also receives gas from suppliers such as Russia and Qatar that is transported long distances via pipeline and LNG carriers, increasing its carbon footprint.
Cuadrilla has also dismissed findings this month from the University of Nottingham, which indicated that shale gas resources could only cover ten years of current UK demand, ver- sus the estimate of 50 years made by the BCS in 2013.
“Wait for our results!” Cuadrilla said on
August 20.
“ ose involved in publishing this should
be embarrassed,” CEO Francis Egan said. “We hold more data and technical experience of the Bowland Shale than anyone else in the UK, yet not once did anyone from this research group or Nottingham University contact us for our view or input.”
“For the University to make the defini- tive claim in its press release that they have ‘determined the capacity of UK shale reserves’ strains credibility beyond breaking point,” he continued. “Cuadrilla is getting on with deter- mining the capacity of UK shale reserves by the only means possible, which is to drill, hydrauli- cally fracture and test the ow rate of gas from real world wells drilled into the shale rock. Our early results are very encouraging.”
One of the greatest hurdles to shale gas exploitation is public opposition. But a gov- ernment survey published last month suggests there is signi cant scope for Cuadrilla and oth- ers to get more public on side. e poll showed that 47% of people neither support nor oppose hydraulic fracturing, while 35% opposed and 15% supported.
In Scotland, prospects are dimmer. The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) government introduced a moratorium on hydraulic frac- turing in 2015, and is looking to make the ban permanent. This has frustrated Grangem- outh-based petrochemical group Ineos’ plan to exploit shale gas to the south and west of Falkirk. ™
PIPELINES & TRANSPORT
North Macedonian pipe nears completion
NORTH MACEDONIA
Its development should help reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
OVER 70% of works on the Negotino-Prilep-Bi- tola gas pipeline have been completed, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on August 24.
Gasi cation is one of the major infrastructure priorities of the Macedonian authorities in the expectation this will reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
e construction of the Negotino-Prilep-Bi- tola section started in February 2017 and is expected to be completed by February 2020 and to be operational by the end of next year.
“ e natural gas is coming closer to industry and citizens, which means we are entering the phase of selecting operators for the secondary network to supply gas to end users,” Zaev said, while inspecting the works on the section.
Zaev reminded that the final works on the Negotino-Stip gas pipeline are under- way while the completion of works on the
Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar pipeline is foreseen by the end of 2020.
e construction of the rst gas pipeline section in Macedonia, Klecovce-Stip, was started in March 2015 by Russian company Stroytransgaz, a project partly nanced by funds provided by Russia to settle debts owed by the Soviet Union to the former Yugo- slavia, of which Macedonia was part.™
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Week 34 29•August•2019