The document discusses fears surrounding shale gas and fracking. It summarizes the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers' role in developing standards for shale gas extraction and engaging stakeholders. It also outlines the spectrum of public views on fracking, from unconditional support to irrational fears. The document argues for using credible messengers and rebutting myths to have an intelligent advocacy on shale gas.

1. Debunking the fears associated
with Shale Gas and Fracking
Dr Claire Curtis-Thomas C.Eng FIMechE
FIET Companion FIGEM
Chief Executive Institution of Gas
Engineers and Managers
May 22nd 2012

2. Presentation Summary
The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers and our role
Shale Gas – A UK Energy Miracle
Global activities
Fear and its antecedents
Coalitions of the concerned
Messages
Missionaries
Glorious Endings

3. The Institution of Gas Engineers and
Managers and our role
Established in 1863
Develops Gas Standards
Active public engagement
used throughout the
program
world
Conducts research delivers
Embodies highest
training and technical
professional standards
seminars

4. IGEM produce trusted technical standards which are
designed to protect the employee and environment
IGEM works with industry and government bodies to deliver
cutting edge practice.
Standards are circulated to industry for peer review before
publication
Subject include, safety, transmission, metering, transmission
and distribution

5. Recommendations of IGEM report
Shale Gas: A UK energy miracle Nov 11
• Flow back water to open • Constant seismic and bore
pits designed to cope with 1 monitoring after seismic
in 300 year rain event activity, specifically for
• Extension of existing detection of fugitive
Environment Agency remit emissions
• Development of an IGEM • Companies need to develop
standard which reflects best CRS program which
practice resonates with local
communities and now
Report based on research, site visits interviews with government agencies, and vested
interest groups

7. What’s happening in the UK
Fracking is a nightmare! Toxic and
radioactive water pollution. Tap water
you can set on fire. Earthquakes.
Runaway climate change. To produce
expensive gas that will soon run out. So
why are we doing it? Our present system
is addicted to fossil fuels but we are
running out fast. As a result the system is
turning to more and more extreme
measures to feed it’s habit. Welcome to
the world ofextreme energy. Tar Sands,
Mountain Top Removal, Deep Water
Drilling, Coal Bed Methane and Shale Gas
are all symptoms of this scramble to suck
the last and most difficult to reach drops
out of our planet.

9. Australia: Country and city unite against fracking May 2012
Jacinta Green, President of Stop
CSG Sydney said: “Our group
formed in response to learning
that a CSG well had been
approved in our backyard — St
Peters — without even talking to
us. “We joined in with what is
surely the most diverse display of
support for a single issue, the
largest social movement Australia
has ever seen. Never before have
so many people with so many
differing opinions and
backgrounds agreed on a few
simple messages.

11. Components of fear
Fear and
protest
Confusion
and
protection
Activities response
which
threaten

12. Types of Fear
Rational Irrational
• Rational fears, unlike irrational • Irrational fear, also known as an
fears, work with the human fight unhealthy fear or a phobia, is a
or flight response to danger. persistent, abnormal, and irrational
When a human sees something fear of a specific thing or situation
that compels one to avoid it, despite
that it fears then the human mind the awareness and reassurance that
will start its instinctive processes it is not dangerous. Phobias can have
to prepare the body “to help you a great variety of causes, with the
survive a dangerous situation by most common comprising of:
preparing you to either run for traumatic events, a combination of
your life or fight for your life (thus genetic predisposition mixed with
the term "fight or flight"). Fear – environmental and social causes,
and the fight-or-flight response in social component[s], or cultural
influences, and danger being
particular – is an instinct that associated to things and situations
every animal possesses” that we cannot prevent or control

13. The Spectrum of the interested
Unequivocal Rational Irrational
support Fear Fear
Individuals interested by or obsessed with Fracking

14. We’re very we are very
interested in Irrational interested
CSG and Public in you …..
Fracking and Rational
Funders
Public
General
Politicians
Public
The
Policy
Developers
concerned Press
coalition

15. The right message, the right way
General Rational Irrational Press Politicians Policy
Public Public Public Formers
Credible Regular Publish detailed Regular Regular Regular
balanced communications rebuttal briefings – one briefings – one briefings one on
representatives on one on one one
Positive Press Positive press Protect Instant response Specific local Technical
Stories stories reputation to technically reports referenced
inaccurate story reports
lines
Education Credible Local stories, Community Independent
balanced nurture interest groups support peer review
representation
Positive Positive Invite to Consultation International
Community community technical comparisons
presence presence briefings
Conventional Conventional Multi media Multi media Encourage Conventional
media Media emphasis on debate - media
social network witnesses

16. Credible messengers?
General Rational Irrational Press Politicians Policy
Public Public Public Makers
Balanced Balanced Balanced Head of Head of Head of
company company company company policy Company Company
representatives representatives representatives
Without exception – ideally all must be good communicators
Credible Third party Appropriately Credible Credible
academics/credi qualified academics/credi academic/exper
ble industry subject ble industry t industry
sources specialists sources sources

17. And finally.. Professional Institutions
have a vital role to play in debunking
myths. Are you supporting your local
Institutions to do a better job?
Institution of Gas Engineers and
Managers – intelligence led Advocacy
May 22nd 2012

18. On behalf of the Institution of Gas
Engineers and Managers and our
many Members here in Australia, I
want to thank you and the
organisers of the resources and
energy symposium for the
opportunity of addressing you
today. Best wishes for your future.