Identifying the risks and opportunities of unconventional oil and gas extraction using the strategic environmental assessment

Hydraulic fracturing has made large reserves of previously unavailable unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources accessible. Despite the advantages of energy security and job creation, potential environmental and socio-economic risks are associated with the extraction of unconventional oil and gas. The impacts of UOG development occur on a regional scale and are cumulative, and are therefore best addressed strategically. A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is useful for integrating the environmental and socio-economic concerns linked to UOG extraction at the earliest appropriate stage of decision-making. This review elaborates on why a SEA is required for UOG resources development and also details the ideal SEA process for UOG extraction that will ensure saliency, credibility and legitimacy of the resultant SEA.