Potential risks of exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons in Ile-de-France. Report by the Ile-de-France regional scientific Council, March 2012

By considering the geological context of the Parisian Basin, and even though the search for and the exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons are virtually impossible in France, this study aimed at gathering and at assessing available data regarding potential risks related to the search for and exploitation of non conventional hydrocarbons. The authors first present the general context: definition of conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbons, role of natural hydrocarbons as energy resources, technologies used to exploit bedrock hydrocarbons, and impact of this exploitation. They present the regional and national contexts: geological and hydrogeological data in Ile-de-France, French regulatory context. They discuss risks: impact and risks related to drilling and to hydraulic fracturing, leakage risks during and after exploitation, relationship between non conventional hydrocarbons and greenhouse effect. They present means to prevent risks related to such an exploitation. Articles are provided in appendix which address stakes of exploitation of shale gas and oil, the importance of the geological context for shale gas exploration and exploitation in southeastern France, risks related to this exploitation for water resource in the same region, the geology and hydrogeology of the Parisian Basin, physical science challenges in gas and oil engineering, the exploitation of bedrock hydrocarbons, potential hazard from geological and geo-technical points of view, and environmental risks related to bedrock hydrocarbon exploitation