Urban gas drilling and distance ordinances in the Texas Barnett Shale

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 62; pp. 79 - 89
• Main Author: Fry, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; City ordinances; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods; Deposition; Drilling; Economic data; Emissions control; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Energy sources; Exact sciences and technology; Fossil fuels and derived products; Fuels; Gas; Gas well production; General, economic and professional studies; Legislation; Legislation, regulations for energy use; Municipalities; Natural gas; Natural gas reserves; Neighborhoods; Noise; Oil industry; Ordinances; Policies; Population; Property; Property values; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Public safety; Quality of life; Real estate; Reserves; Schools; Setback distances; Shale; Shale gas; Studies; Texas; U.S.A; Urban drilling; United States; North America; Texas; America; United States > US; USA, Texas; Urban drilling; Setback distances; Shale gas; Drilling; Evaluation; Methodology; Political aspect; Urban area; Housing; Case study; Legal aspect; Regulation; Economic aspect; Social aspect; Distance; Natural gas
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.107

Newly accessible shale deposits and other unconventional sources of natural gas have dramatically increased global gas reserves and are regarded as major future energy sources. Shale gas drilling began in Texas and is expanding throughout the U.S. and globally. In Texas and other regions, large population centers overlie these deposits. As a result, city residents increasingly come into contact with extraction activities. The proximity of drilling activities to residential areas raises a number of concerns, including noise, dust and emissions hazards, public safety, diminished quality of life, and effects on neighborhood aesthetics and property values. Cities in Texas address these concerns through setback ordinances that regulate the distance between gas wells and residences, schools, floodplains, etc. Although the state of Texas permits drilling 200ft (61m) from residences, many municipalities in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) have established longer setback distances. This paper analyzes the purpose and basis for setback distances among 26 municipalities in DFW. Findings show that there is no uniform setback distance, distances have increased over time, and, rather than technically-based, setbacks are political compromises. For policy makers confronted with urban shale gas drilling, deriving setback distances from advanced emissions monitoring could decrease setback distance ambiguity. •Urban shale gas drilling is expanding across the globe.•Municipal distance regulations address many concerns associated with urban drilling.•In Texas, setbacks have no empirical basis, but are political compromises.•Advanced monitoring methods could be used to standardize setback distances.