GGS provides specialist continuous ground-gas monitoring services to shale gas and other unconventional petroleum exploration and production companies to demonstrate that they are complying with the terms of their licence. The service is carried out in two phases. The first ‘baseline’ phase establishes the pre-drilling background concentrations of ground-gases in the near surface soils and aquifers and using forensic sampling and laboratory compositional and isotopic analysis techniques to ‘finger-print’ the gases. This robust evidence base is then available as a reference against which future information can be compared.

 

The second phase involves continuous monitoring and sample analysis of the drilling site so that any changes in the gas regime are detected. If this occurs then the ground-gas ‘fingerprint’ can be compared to the baseline conditions.

 

This ‘best practice’ service removes uncertainty and provides confidence to GGS’ clients, the regulators and interested third-parties regarding the integrity of the environmental protection measures employed at the exploration well site.

 

GGS has recently been appointed by Cuadrilla to carry out environmental monitoring at it UK sites. This contract includes continuous ground-gas monitoring and forensic analysis of water and gas samples. For more information please read the following press article.

 

Natural Gas Europe October 15th