SHEER · Project

Risk Assessment Tools for Safer Shale Gas Operations and Environmental Protection

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When companies drill for shale gas using fracking, they can accidentally crack open underground pathways that let gas and fluids leak into drinking water, pollute the air, or even trigger small earthquakes. SHEER built a set of methods to predict where and how badly these cracks might spread — like a weather forecast, but for underground fracture risks. They tested their tools using real data from past drilling sites and a live fracking operation in Poland, so regulators and operators can now better monitor what's happening below the surface and stop problems before they start.

By the numbers

consortium partners across multiple disciplines

countries represented (DE, IT, NL, PL, UK, US)

project deliverables produced

EUR 2,601,720

EU contribution to the research

The business problem

What needed solving

Shale gas operators face unpredictable environmental risks — fracking can open underground fracture pathways that contaminate groundwater, release air pollutants, and trigger seismic events. Without reliable tools to predict and monitor these risks, companies face regulatory shutdowns, liability exposure, and community opposition. Insurers and regulators also lack data-driven methods to quantify these risks accurately.

The solution

What was built

SHEER produced probabilistic risk assessment procedures for groundwater contamination, air pollution, and induced seismicity from shale gas operations. They built fracture evolution tracking models, a multi-parameter monitoring system, web services for data access, and best-practice guidelines — all validated on real fracking data from Poland, totaling 24 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Shale gas exploration and production companies planning European operationsEnvironmental consulting firms preparing fracking impact assessmentsInsurance companies underwriting environmental liability for unconventional gasNational geological surveys and environmental regulators overseeing shale gas permitsSeismic monitoring service providers working near drilling sites

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Oil and Gas Exploration

enterprise

Target: Shale gas operators and drilling companies

If you are a shale gas operator planning new hydraulic fracturing sites — this project developed probabilistic risk assessment procedures that predict groundwater contamination, air pollution, and induced seismicity risks across your entire operational lifecycle. Their methods were validated on a real fracking operation run by the Polish Oil and Gas Company in Pomerania, giving you field-tested tools to plan safer operations and satisfy regulatory requirements.

Environmental Consulting

mid-size

Target: Environmental impact assessment firms serving the energy sector

If you are an environmental consultancy preparing impact assessments for unconventional gas projects — SHEER developed multi-parameter monitoring methods that track fracture evolution, groundwater quality changes, air pollution, and ground deformation simultaneously. Their consortium of 9 partners across 6 countries compiled a comprehensive case study database you can benchmark against, strengthening the evidence base behind your client reports.

Insurance and Risk Management

enterprise

Target: Insurers and reinsurers covering energy sector environmental liability

If you are an insurer underwriting environmental liability for shale gas operations — this project created statistically-based risk models that quantify the probability of groundwater contamination, seismicity events, and air quality degradation from fracking. With 24 deliverables covering the full risk chain from fracture propagation to surface impact, these tools help you price policies based on actual data rather than guesswork.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or use these risk assessment tools?

The project was publicly funded with EUR 2,601,720 under Horizon 2020 as a Research and Innovation Action. Pricing for licensing individual tools or methodologies would need to be negotiated directly with the consortium lead, GFZ Helmholtz Centre. As EU-funded research, some outputs may be available under open-access terms.

Can these methods scale to commercial shale gas operations?

The methods were applied to a real hydraulic fracturing operation by the Polish Oil and Gas Company in Pomerania, demonstrating applicability beyond laboratory conditions. They were also tested against a comprehensive database of past case studies covering seismicity, groundwater quality, air quality, and ground deformation data.

What is the IP situation — can we use this commercially?

SHEER was a Research and Innovation Action funded by the EU, involving 9 partners from 6 countries. IP ownership and licensing terms would be governed by the consortium agreement. Contact GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung (coordinator) to discuss commercial licensing options.

Does this meet current EU regulatory requirements for shale gas environmental assessment?

SHEER explicitly developed best practices for European application, with an advisory group that included governmental decision-making bodies and private industries. The project aimed to produce monitoring and risk mitigation standards specifically designed for the European regulatory environment.

How long would it take to deploy these tools at a new site?

The project ran from 2015 to 2018 and produced 24 deliverables including web services for data access. Based on available project data, the monitoring and assessment methods require site-specific calibration using local seismicity, groundwater, and air quality baseline data before deployment.

Can this integrate with our existing environmental monitoring systems?

SHEER developed web services (documented in their demo deliverable) for data sharing and sustainability. The multi-parameter approach covers seismicity monitoring, groundwater quality, air quality, and ground deformation — designed to work as an integrated system rather than isolated measurements.

Consortium

Who built it

The SHEER consortium brings together 9 partners from 6 countries (Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, UK, USA), anchored by GFZ Helmholtz Centre — one of Europe's leading geoscience research institutions. The mix of 4 universities and 4 research organizations provides deep scientific credibility, though the single industry partner (11% industry ratio) and zero SMEs signal this is firmly a research-driven effort. The Polish connection was critical — it provided access to a real hydraulic fracturing site for field validation. The US partner adds valuable experience from the world's most active shale gas market. For a business buyer, the scientific rigor is strong, but you would likely need a commercial integrator to package these methods into turnkey solutions.

GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNGCoordinator · DE
UNIVERSITY OF KEELE ROYAL CHARTERparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO IIthirdparty · IT
KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMIparticipant · NL
AMRA - ANALISI E MONITORAGGIO DEL RISCHIO AMBIENTALE SCARLparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWparticipant · UK
Instytut Geofizyki Polskiej Akademii Naukparticipant · PL

How to reach the team

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung in Potsdam, Germany — reach out to their technology transfer office

Order a report on this consortium See GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want a detailed briefing on how SHEER's risk assessment tools could fit your operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the research team and help evaluate commercial applicability for your specific use case.

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