In previous articles we have analyzed what is the fracking, how it works and the controversies surrounding this oil and gas extraction technique. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method based on injecting water at high pressure, along with chemicals, to fracture underground rocks and release the natural resources trapped therein. However, while fracking has been extremely successful in countries such as the United States, in Spain it has resulted in a failure of which today we analyze the main reasons, as well as its environmental and social consequences.
This article will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the evolution of fracking in Spain, its impacts and the reasons behind its decline in our country.
Consequences of fracking
One of the most criticized aspects of fracking is the environmental impacts it causes. Fracking not only affects the subsoil where it is carried out, it also generates negative effects on the natural environment, such as the contamination of aquifers, the release of greenhouse gases, and damage to local flora and fauna. This is due to the injection of fluids with various chemical products into the subsoil, which can filter into the aquifers, contaminating sources of drinking water.
Among the chemicals used in the process, benzene and lead stand out, which are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as carcinogenic factors. In addition, fracking releases large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide, with a more severe climate impact.
Another serious impact is the high demand for water. Fracturing rocks requires between 9.000 and 29.000 cubic metres of water per well, which is particularly worrying in Spain, a semi-arid country. The use of this valuable resource can generate strong competition for water in local communities and sectors such as agriculture.
Fracking in Spain
Beginning in 2010, five companies began investigating the potential of fracking in the Spanish subsoil. Natural gas reserves in the Basque-Cantabrian Basin were expected to provide up to 70 years of gas supply, according to estimates by the Spanish Association of Hydrocarbon Research, Exploration and Production Companies and Underground Storage. In theory, this could have made Spain more energy independent.
However, several factors contributed to the failure of fracking in Spain. One of the main reasons was the low international oil price for much of the 2010s, which made the large-scale investment required for extraction through fracking economically unviable. Companies that initially bet on this method in Spain, such as BNK and Shale Gas España, abandoned their projects. In addition, Spanish legislation has been increasingly restrictive with this technique, culminating in the ban on fracking in 2021, as part of the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law.
5 companies: The failed attempt
The Shale Gas España group, made up of five foreign and national companies, was a pioneer in trying to develop fracking in our country. However, all of these companies have already given up on hydraulic fracturing as a viable alternative for the extraction of natural gas in Spain.
For the most part, research and extraction permits were concentrated in autonomous communities such as Cantabria and the Basque Country. However, strong environmentalist opposition and legal limitations caused this type of project to come to a standstill. In the end, it was the low price of oil that finally put an end to these projects, although pressure from environmental groups also played an important role.
The dark side of fracking: beyond Spain
In other countries, especially in the United States, the rise of fracking has generated concerns similar to those we see in Spain. In some regions of the United States, such as Texas and Ohio, numerous low-magnitude earthquakes have been recorded in areas where fracking is practiced, which has reinforced public disapproval of this technique. These micro-earthquakes are a direct consequence of the injection of fluids at great depths, which alters the stability of the underground layers.
Another major risk is the hazardous waste generated by fracking. Wells can produce up to 20 tons of polluting sludge per year, resulting from the drilling and extraction process. This sludge needs to be treated properly, as it contains dangerous chemical residues and, in some cases, even radioactive materials.
A technique banned in many countries
Fracking has been banned in several European countries, including France, Austria and Bulgaria, due to its environmental risks and potential effects on human health. In Spain, the situation is similar, with a total ban on fracking implemented in 2021 through the Climate Change Law.
Although the ban has been welcomed by Spanish environmental groups, there remains the problem of imports of fracked gas from countries such as the United States. About 29% of Spain's gas imports come from places where fracking is common practice, prompting criticism over the coherence between domestic policy and energy imports.
The cost of fracking is not only environmental, but also economic. Its viability depends largely on the price of oil and gas on international markets. When prices fall, such projects tend to become unsustainable.
These realities have led many experts to advocate a transition to renewable energy. Solar and wind energy are not only cleaner, but they are also cheaper in the long run, much faster to deploy, and do not pose the environmental risks of fracking.
Despite the ban on fracking in Spain and other countries, imports of fossil gas extracted using this technique continue. This raises the challenge of how to achieve energy independence without compromising the environmental commitments established in the Paris Agreement.
In Spain, attempts to develop fracking have been halted for both economic reasons and social and political resistance. Fortunately, initiatives are being taken to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and move towards an energy model based on clean and renewable energy.