Shale Gas – what do the risk managers say?

Will shale gas become part of the U.K. energy industry or does it pose a threat as some campaigners say? Engineers and project managers looking at this potential new sector of the industry could read the report from insurance brokers, Willis, discussed on the Guardian website. According to the article, the report ‘looked at the risks…and concluded that as long as shale gas companies adhere to industry best practice, the risks can be significantly reduced.’ The report noted that it is the casing of the well that is crucial where best industry practice is to ‘drill a well with intermediate casing 4,000 feet deep into the layer of rock beneath which lie the vast majority of gas deposits.’ While the industry was given a ‘reasonable risk profile’ a commentator noted that ‘underwriters are not there to cover long-term health hazard and other latent issues." so debates on this new energy sector are probably set to continue.Read the article here http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/17/shale-gas-fracking-risks-insurance-broker?newsfeed=true