ShaleXenvironmenT · Project

Safer Shale Gas Extraction Tools That Cut Water Contamination and Seismic Risk

energyPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Europe is sitting on massive shale gas reserves, but getting that gas out of the ground can pollute water, trigger small earthquakes, and leak methane. This project brought together 12 research groups across 7 countries to figure out exactly how bad those risks are and how to reduce them. They developed new fracturing fluid recipes that work in salty conditions and pull out less radioactive material — tested at lab scale with actual samples. Think of it as creating a cleaner recipe for cracking open underground rock to get gas, while measuring every side effect along the way.

By the numbers

consortium partners across disciplines

European countries represented

total project deliverables produced

industry partners in consortium

50 years

projected European shale gas relevance window

2004

year European conventional gas production peaked

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies extracting shale gas or operating subsurface energy projects face three expensive problems: water contamination from fracturing fluids, risk of induced seismicity, and fugitive methane emissions. European environmental regulations are tightening, and reliable risk data specific to European geology has been scarce — forcing companies to rely on US data that may not apply. Without cleaner fracturing methods and credible environmental footprint data, obtaining permits and social license for subsurface energy operations in Europe remains a major barrier.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 40 deliverables including laboratory-scale samples of two key innovations: fracturing fluid additives that reduce radioactive material (NORM) in flowback water, and fracturing formulations that remain effective at high salt concentrations. Alongside these, comprehensive environmental assessment data on water usage, induced seismicity, and fugitive emissions from European shale formations was generated.

Audience

Who needs this

Oilfield service companies developing greener fracturing technologiesEnvironmental consultancies preparing impact assessments for subsurface energy projectsWater treatment firms processing produced water from oil and gas operationsGeothermal energy companies facing similar subsurface challengesRegulators and government agencies assessing shale gas permits in Europe

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Oil and Gas Services

enterprise

Target: Oilfield service companies providing hydraulic fracturing operations

If you are an oilfield services company dealing with increasingly strict environmental regulations on fracturing fluids — this project developed laboratory-tested fracturing formulations that work at high salt content and reduce the amount of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in flowback water. With 40 deliverables covering water contamination, seismicity, and emissions, this gives you a science-backed toolkit to offer greener fracturing services across 7 European markets.

Environmental Consulting

mid-size

Target: Environmental impact assessment firms working in energy sector

If you are an environmental consultancy struggling to provide credible risk assessments for shale gas projects because reliable European data is scarce — this project produced comprehensive environmental footprint data covering water usage, induced seismicity, and fugitive emissions specific to European shale formations. Built by 12 partners including 5 research organizations, this dataset can underpin your regulatory submissions and client advisories.

Water Treatment

mid-size

Target: Industrial water treatment companies handling produced water from oil and gas operations

If you are a water treatment company facing the challenge of processing flowback water contaminated with radioactive materials and high salt concentrations — this project developed and lab-tested additives that reduce NORM extraction during fracturing itself, meaning less contamination reaches the surface. This upstream approach could reduce your clients' treatment costs and regulatory burden for produced water handling.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access these fracturing formulations?

The project was publicly funded under Horizon 2020 as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), so core research findings are publicly available. However, specific formulations developed with the 2 industry partners may have IP arrangements. Contact the coordinator at University College London for licensing terms on the lab-scale additives.

Can these formulations work at industrial scale, not just in the lab?

Currently, the deliverables explicitly describe laboratory-scale samples of fracturing additives. Scaling from lab to field operations would require pilot testing and engineering adaptation. The project's 2 industrial partners could potentially support a scale-up pathway.

Who owns the intellectual property on these formulations?

As an EU-funded RIA project, IP typically stays with the partner that generated it — in this case likely shared between University College London and consortium members. The 2 industry partners and 2 SMEs in the consortium may hold commercial rights to specific formulations. A freedom-to-operate check is recommended.

How does this help with regulatory compliance for shale gas permits?

The project was designed specifically to produce environmental data suitable for governmental appraisal. It covers the three main regulatory concerns — water contamination, induced seismicity, and fugitive emissions — across European shale formations. This data can support environmental impact assessments required for extraction permits.

Is this relevant given Europe's current stance on fracking?

While several EU countries have moratoriums on fracking, the environmental monitoring tools, water contamination data, and seismicity models have direct applications to geothermal energy, underground gas storage, and carbon capture and storage — all of which involve similar subsurface operations. The EuroSciVoc tags include geothermal energy alongside hydrocarbons.

How long would it take to adapt these results for commercial use?

The project ran from 2015 to 2018 and produced 40 deliverables including lab-scale samples. Moving from lab-tested formulations to commercial products would likely require 2-3 years of pilot testing and regulatory approval. The environmental datasets and monitoring methodologies could be commercialized more quickly through consulting services.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 12 partners across 7 countries (CZ, DE, EL, ES, FR, IT, UK) is heavily research-weighted: 5 research organizations and 4 universities versus just 2 industry partners (17% industry ratio). This tells a business buyer that the results are scientifically rigorous but will need commercial translation. The 2 SMEs in the group suggest some entrepreneurial interest in commercialization. University College London as coordinator brings strong international credibility. The geographic spread across major European energy markets (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) means the environmental data covers diverse geological and regulatory contexts — useful for companies operating across borders.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDONCoordinator · UK
USTAV CHEMICKYCH PROCESU AV CR, v. v. i.participant · CZ
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTEparticipant · ES
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERparticipant · UK
GEOMECON GMBHparticipant · DE
GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNGparticipant · DE
ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELSparticipant · FR
INSTITUT MINES-TELECOMthirdparty · FR
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH "DEMOKRITOS"participant · EL
CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO PERLO SVILUPPO DEI SISTEMI A GRANDE INTERFASEparticipant · IT
USTAV FYZIKALNI CHEMIE J. HEYROVSKEHO AV CR, v. v. i.participant · CZ

How to reach the team

University College London, UK — reach out to the Department of Chemical Engineering or Earth Sciences for project leads

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to access these fracturing formulations or environmental datasets for your operations? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the research team and help evaluate commercial fit.

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