Analysis of environmental legal system of shale gas fracturing in China

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is a technique for shale gas production. The use of this technology allows natural gas and oil to be economically produced from shale formations. However, the application of fracturing is accompanied by potential environmental risks such as water waste and pollution, ecological damage, air pollution and earthquakes. In China, shale gas development as one of the key ways to achieve energy supply security and its 2030 peak carbon target. China has liberalized the restrictions on extraction entities and has taken numerous measures to encourage shale gas development. The regulation of hydraulic fracturing and other environmental issues poses a new challenge to the harmonization of energy and environmental legislation in China. Based on the analysis of the existing system, this study proposed the shortcomings of the current Chinese shale gas environmental regulatory framework, which indicate that the legal level for hydraulic fracturing is low; there are loopholes in the legal rules regulating the environmental problems caused by hydraulic fracturing, and the environmental and energy laws are not compatible. A typical case of Fuling, China was selected for analysis. In addition, it is suggested that Chinese regulators should develop a special shale gas law, introducing appropriate hydraulic fracturing regulations to fill the legal regulatory loopholes.