Effects of ‘pre-fracking’ operations on ambient air quality at a shale gas exploration site in rural North Yorkshire, England

Purvis, Ruth M.; Lewis, Alastair C.; Hopkins, James R.; Wilde, Shona E.; Dunmore, Rachel E.; Allen, Grant; Pitt, Joseph; Ward, Robert S.. 2019 Effects of ‘pre-fracking’ operations on ambient air quality at a shale gas exploration site in rural North Yorkshire, England. Science of The Total Environment, 673. 445-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.077

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.077

Abstract/Summary

Rural observations of air quality and meteorological parameters (NOx, O3, NMHCs, SO2, PM) were made over a 2.5-year period (2016–2018) before, during and after preparations for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at a shale gas exploration site near Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, England. As one of the first sites to apply for permits to carry out hydraulic fracturing, it has been subject to extensive regulatory and public scrutiny, as well as the focus for a major programme of long-term environmental monitoring. A baseline period of air quality monitoring (starting 2016) established the annual climatology of atmospheric composition against which a 20-week period of intensive activity on the site in preparation for hydraulic fracturing could be compared. During this ‘pre-operational phase’ of work in late 2017, the most significant effect was an increase in ambient NO (3-fold) and NOx (2-fold), arising from a combination of increased vehicle activity and operation of equipment on site. Although ambient NOx increased, air quality limit values for NO2 were not exceeded, even close to the well-site. Local ozone concentrations during the pre-operational period were slightly lower than the baseline phase due to titration with primary emitted NO. The activity on site did not lead to significant changes in airborne particulate matter or non-methane hydrocarbons. Hydraulic fracturing of the well did not subsequently take place and the on-site equipment was decommissioned and removed. Air quality parameters then returned to the original (baseline) climatological conditions. This work highlights the need to characterise the full annual climatology of air quality parameters against which short-term local activity changes can be compared. Based on this study, changes to ambient NOx appear to be the most significant air quality ahead of hydraulic fracturing. However, in rural locations, concentrations at individual sites are expected to be below ambient air quality limit thresholds.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.077
ISSN:	00489697
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater
Date made live:	12 Jun 2019 12:35 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523720

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.077

ISSN:

00489697

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater

Date made live:

12 Jun 2019 12:35 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523720