Texas has led the nation in developing and applying technology for production of tight oil and shale gas and has learned a lot from this experience. A TAMEST-appointed task force team reviewed the impacts of shale oil and gas development in Texas. The goal of the study was to evaluate the scientific basis of the current body of information available, both positive and negative, and effectively communicate to the public the current state of knowledge of environmental and community impacts of shale development in Texas.

The study includes assessments of existing studies of impacts on air, water, seismicity, transportation, and communities in the shale development areas. Based on these assessments and the expertise represented on the team, the task force has (1) reviewed the scientific and technical methodologies, assumptions, and approaches applied in existing impact studies; (2) identified gaps in the existing work, if any; (3) suggested improvements to reconcile inconsistencies in existing assessments; and (4) made recommendations for further analysis, if needed, to address identified issues related to shale development in Texas. This paper provides a summary of the key findings from the task force report.

Primary Author/Presenter:
Christine Ehlig-Economides
Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
USA

Co-Authors:
Dr. Brian Stump, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Dr. David Allen, University of Texas, Austin, TX
Melinda Taylor, Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Business, Austin, TX
Dr. Danny Reible, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
John Barton, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Dr. Gene Theodori, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX