Influence on the quality of human life
The prospective sources of shale gas in Poland stretch from the Pomerania region to the Lublin area. These areas are usually scarcely populated which lowers the risk of adverse effects of gas exploitation on the quality of life.
A big part of the areas where shale gas can be found have a population density of 20-40 to 40-60 persons per square kilometre. Gdańsk and Warsaw are areas with high population density and may limit drilling work where there are 200 persons per square kilometre.
Natural gas exploration and extraction impacts the life of local communities. The work connected with the drilling area generate traffic on local roads. In the case of unconventional resources the additional problem is transporting the required materials for the hydraulic fracturing process. The increased traffic usually impacts the local community within several weeks of the intensive work on preparing the deposit. The drilling rig becomes a part of the landscape which is a source of light during the night-time. The work conducted on the drilling area entails also the emission of fumes from the drilling equipment and the pumps used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
The emitted noise during exploration and extraction work has a significant impact on the life of local people. Its main source are drilling devices, power generator and fracturing pumps. The Polish Geological Institute conducted research on the impact of emitted noise during exploration work by the Łebień LE-2H borehole. The analysis indicated that the peak value of the emitted noise was 77.5 dB. The noise in the housing area was around 53.8 dB. The research conducted during drilling work of three boreholes by Jan Macuda, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology, showed that the 45 dB equal-loudness contour range which, in the studied region of the drilling rig was the most frequently used measure during the night-time, was 427-429 m1.