Spatially-resolved assessment of land and water use scenarios for shale gas development : Poland and Germany

Specific technology scenarios regarding water and land use requirements for shale gas development from 2013-2028 were coupled with spatially-resolved water and land availability/demand modeling tools (i.e. using the European Land Use Modelling Platform (LUMP)). Scenario analyses (intended to represent worst-, average- and best-case assumptions) were subsequently implemented that incorporate a subset of the identified variables for shale gas development in the Lower Paleozoic Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin basin in Poland and for Germany as a whole from 2013-2028. We undertook a screening-level risk assessment of potential human and ecosystem health impacts attributable to accidental or operational release of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing of shale formations, and a qualitative discussion of necessary considerations to support future air quality impact assessments for shale gas development activities.