Pete Styles briefs journalists on fracking

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Posted on 13 January 2012

Professor Peter Styles, Professor of Applied and Environmental Geophysics, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, was one of the experts in the geology and geophysics of fracking who briefed national journalists at the Science Media Centre this week on the issues of seismic activity and methane leakage from shale gas extraction.

Shale gas has become a controversial issue but Professor Styles said the chemicals used in fracking in the UK were relatively common and were unlikely to cause problems of pollution. He also said the seismic activity that had been prompted by the Cuadrilla drilling near Blackpool was very small and similar to that found in coalmining areas. The briefing was widely reported, including articles by the Press Association, in the Guardian and on the BBC.

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