The Effects Of Shale Gas On Global Warming And Climate...

Sergio Rodriguez Sci. 351A Due: 07-30-15 The Effect of Shale Gas on Global Warming and Climate Change and the Environment Global warming is a very disputed issue due to the fact that in every situation, there are two sides to a story. Some believe global warming is not an issue seeing as there have been trends in the past that indicate that the world changes constantly and that it will once again come to its natural order. Like geologist Charles Lyell once stated with his idea of uniformitarianism, that the Earth is shaped by the same processes still in operation today. Also, James Hutton stated that, â€Å"The future will resemble the past†, meaning that the events happening today, have already occurred, therefore they will happen once again†¦show more content†¦Shale is a soft, fine sedimentary rock that formed from consolidated mud or clay. It contains shale gas that is trapped within the shale formations which are rich in petroleum and natural gas. Studies have shown that 3.6% up to 7.9% of methane from shale gas escapes through venting and leaks into the atmosphere over a lifetime of a well. Methane emissions are considered to be at least 30% higher in concentration than conventional gas. That is, pools in which wells can be drilled so that oil and natural gas flow naturally and can be pumped to the surface. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential that is far greater than that of carbon dioxide. Shale gas contributes substantially to the greenhouse gas footprint on a shorter time scale, and results have shown that it leaves a 20% greater footprint than coal. Natural gas is being used as a transitional fuel which allows for further dependence on fossil fuels, yet reducing the green house gasses (GHG) when compared to oil and coal. In the 1990’s the United States produced its oil and gas through the use of conventional reservoirs, but in 2009, unconventional production took the lead. There is really not much of a difference between conventional an d unconventional gas, but they are described as a â€Å"sponge and clay† production process. Gas is extracted far more easily though the use of conventional production, but in turn